Hamlin, FedEx Racing Rout Field in Richmond to Claim Win and Chase Momentum

As the tenth and final caution flag flew on lap 382 of Saturday night’s Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway, a collective grown emitted from the #11 pit.  Denny Hamlin and the #11 FedEx Racing team had thouroughly dominated the race, leading 281 laps to that point, and it was clear he would not be caught unless a caution gave the field one last shot.


With memories of late-race bad luck at RIR still fresh in his memory, Hamlin calmly pulled the FedEx Express Camry onto pit road where the team, as they had all night long, worked quickly to send Hamlin out in the lead.  Hamlin then chose his line and checked out at the restart – adding 14 laps to his total on the night and claiming a much anticipated, and to this point, elusive win at his hometown track.  It also marked the 75th win for Joe Gibs Racing at the Cup level.


“I was trying not to choke (when the final caution came out),” said Hamlin.  “That’s the only thing I can say.  This FedEx Camry was just so good.  We kept adjusting on it all day and just got it the best right there at the end.  That was a ball racing with Jeff (Gordon) there for a while upfront.  I was just trying to measure them up and see what I had in case I had to race these guys at the end but for the most part we had the most dominant car all day.”


Kurt Busch claimed second place while Gordon, who offered the most competition on the night, leading 97 laps, posted a third-place finish.  Hamlin’s Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch and Joey Logano finished fifth and 14th, respectively.  For Busch, who was seeking to clinch a spot in the Chase, the night ended with him sitting just eight points out of 12th place and without a place in the 2009 Chase for the Sprint Cup.


The win not only gives Hamlin, a native of nearby Chesterfield (Va.), the trophy he has been longing for since he first turned a wheel in the Cup Series, it gives the team a second win bonus and it launches their 2009 Chase for the Sprint Cup effort.  By virtue of his points position and win total, Hamlin will start the Chase in fourth place, only 20 points behind leader Mark Martin.


The 12-driver, ten-race Chase for the Sprint Cup kicks off next Sunday afternoon at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.


“Today our FedEx team is a championship contender,” said Hamlin.  “As I told these guys, they better watch out for us and now we’re for real. It just shows how strong our race team is.  Over the last 12 weeks we’ve just been extremely strong and excited about the Chase.  We’ve got some great tracks for us coming up there.  Hopefully that burnout didn’t hurt this car because I need it.”


After qualifying third for Saturday night’s Chevy Rock & Roll 400, Hamlin lined up on the inside of row two and showed absolutely no shortage of confidence as he followed polesitter Mark Martin into turn one.  With each turn he narrowed the distance between the two and by lap four, the driver of the #11 Camry had waited long enough.  He moved to the inside of Martin in turn one to grab the lead but enjoyed only two circuits of the .75-mile track before the first caution of the night flew on lap six.


Restarting from the point, Hamlin was able to get a sense for how well the FedEx Camry would work on the long run as he held off pressure from behind while navigating lapped traffic before the second caution of the day flew on lap 44.


Crew Chief Mike Ford called Hamlin in for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment.   The crew started quick with a very fast stop, getting Hamlin out first for the restart on lap 50.


Hamlin held off the chase of Gordon until the caution flew again on lap 59.  With the leaders staying out, the fight continued when the race went green and Gordon managed to push the #24 Chevrolet past to assume the lead on lap 66.  Hamlin then enjoyed some of the closest racing of the evening, trailing Gordon as he looked for any opportunity to pass.


The caution flag came out again on lap 108 for debris and Ford called Hamlin onto pit road for another track bar adjustment aimed at freeing the #11 up in traffic.


The battle between the #11 and #24 teams continued on pit road as Gordon came out in first to restart in the lead on lap 111 with Hamlin in second.  Hamlin, however, went to work on Gordon before ultimately reclaiming the point on lap 151.  The next caution, falling on lap 173, again brought Hamlin to pit road for adjustments and again Hamlin would have to line up behind Gordon for the restart.


Despite being the chaser, Hamlin wasted little time getting to the inside of Gordon and making the pass on lap 183.


Hamlin held the lead at the halfway point then turned onto pit road under caution on lap 205.  Another round of air and wedge adjustments to go with four tires and fuel, and the #11 team had Hamlin out to start the race from the point.  Hamlin nailed the restart and pulled away with ease – once again stamping his authority on the race.


Before the next caution on lap 278, Hamlin opened up a 2.5-second gap on Gordon but that advantage was erased when the field hit pit road.  The FedEx team, however, was the team to beat on pit road as well as they sent Hamlin out in the lead for the restart on lap 287.


They would replicate the feat on lap 319 when Hamlin – happy with the performance of the car – visited for fuel and tires only.  Hamlin restarted first on lap 323 and never looked back, leading the field to the final agonizing caution on lap 381.  With the #11 team on top of their game again, Hamlin never looked back, holding the lead from lap 206 until he took the checkered flag on lap 400.


“I’ve got to thank the fans - everyone who’s wearing that number 11 hat or shirt,” said Hamlin.  “These are the times that I get so excited.  I made sure I did everything I did at Pocono.  I’ve only worn this hat two times and the other one was at Pocono.  I made sure I had my gold heat shields on.  Everything from Pocono.  I had my grandma’s St. Jude key chain in there.  I was just making sure that I covered all bases when we got here today.”