NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin looks on as he caddies for Bubba Watson during the Par 3 Contest prior to the start of the 2012 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 4, 2012, in Augusta, Ga.
Denny Hamlin
Who’s The King Of Martinsville?
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Here are the contenders for the crown: Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin.
Oddly, neither won a Martinsville race last year (Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart did), but that was a rarity.
Every year since 2003, at least one of those three drivers has won a Martinsville race. And even though Martinsville’s history goes all the way back to 1949, the three already reside near the top of the track’s wins list. Gordon has seven wins (tied for third-most); Johnson has six wins (tied for fifth); and Hamlin has four wins (tied for ninth).
Gordon needs the usual Martinsville success most – he currently sits 25th (the lowest points position through five races of his career), 51 points outside the top 10.
If a Gordon victory occurs (or a Johnson, Kasey Kahne or Dale Earnhardt Jr. win), it’ll be Hendrick Motorsports’ 200th win. That scene would be fitting – Martinsville was the site of Hendrick’s first win in 1984. Hendrick would also tie Petty Enterprises from most wins all time at the Virginia short track.
2012 Auto Club Speedway NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Starting Lineup – Denny Hamlin
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1 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Express Toyota 38.626 186.403
2 18 Kyle Busch Interstate Batteries Toyota 38.807 185.534
3 55 Mark Martin Aaron’s Toyota 38.807 185.534
4 16 Greg Biffle 3M Ford 38.812 185.510
5 5 Kasey Kahne Quaker State Chevrolet 38.812 185.510
6 39 Ryan Newman US ARMY Chevrolet 38.850 185.328
7 29 Kevin Harvick Jimmy John’s Chevrolet 38.877 185.199
8 20 Joey Logano Dollar General Toyota 38.878 185.195
THE FINAL LAP WEEKLY – AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY PREVIEW SHOW
9 14 Tony Stewart Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet 38.880 185.185
10 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe’s/Jimmie Johnson Foundation Chevrolet 38.893 185.123
Continue reading “2012 Auto Club Speedway NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Starting Lineup – Denny Hamlin”
Joe Gibbs Racing starting 2012 strong
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Hot Start For JGR Stable
Through two races, Joe Gibbs Racing has placed all three of its drivers in the top 10 in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points. It’s been awhile since they’ve accomplished the feat. Not since after Homestead in 2008 – Tony Stewart’s last race with the organization – has all three JGR members ranked in the top 10.
At the top spot sits Denny Hamlin, winner of Sunday’s race at Phoenix International Raceway. Hamlin, who scored just one win all of last season, earned a little retribution from a Phoenix stumble that cost him the championship in 2010. It was also crew chief Darian Grubb’s first win with JGR after winning the championship with Tony Stewart and Stewart-Haas Racing last season. Grubb has now won six of the last 12 races. Another nugget: With the win, the No. 11 tied the No. 43 for most wins all time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with 198.
Race Recap: Denny Hamlin holds off Harvick to win Cup race at Phoenix
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By Reid Spencer
NASCAR Wire Service
AVONDALE, Ariz. — At the racetrack that dashed his championship hopes in 2010, Denny Hamlin found redemption in Sunday’s Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.
In his second race with 2011 Sprint Cup championship crew chief Darian Grubb on his pit box, Hamlin held off Kevin Harvick in a 53-lap green-flag run to finish the 312-lap race at the one-mile track and took over the series points lead for the first time since surrendering it in the final race of 2010 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Harvick lost fuel pressure with fewer than two laps left but had enough momentum to retain the second position, 7.315 seconds behind the race winner.
Greg Biffle came home third, followed by Jimmie Johnson and Brad Keselowski. Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Jeff Gordon, pole-sitter Mark Martin and Joey Logano completed the top 10.
Continue reading “Race Recap: Denny Hamlin holds off Harvick to win Cup race at Phoenix”
The Final Lap Weekly 