Home Win For Hamlin

NASCAR made it's latest visit to the sport's oldest race track Sunday for the Goody's Cool Orange 500. For the longest time, it looked like a Hendrick driver would win again. But instead, it was one of Virginia's own taking the checkered flag. Denny Hamlin held off Jeff Gordon to take the win at Martinsville.

In the history of NASCAR, there have been plenty of drivers from Virginia who made an impact on the sport.  For those obvious reasons, a win at historic Martinsville Speedway would have special meaning.  On Sunday, a Virginia driver got just that.  Denny Hamlin held off Jeff Gordon to take the win at the Goody's Cool Orange 500 Sunday afternoon.  Hamlin led 82 of the 500 laps.  The win vaulted him seven spots to eighth in the points standings.  It marked the second win for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2008 (Kyle Busch at Atlanta).

 

It was pretty much your typical short track race.  The event was slowed for caution 18 times for 89 laps.  Many of the cautions the result of someone getting tapped and spun out.  As is also typical, short tracks can cause short tempers.  On lap 329, Matt Kenseth was spun out by David Gilliland.  That brought out the 15th caution.  The 16th was brought out on lap 364 when Kenseth returned the favor to Gilliland, spinning him out.  That caught NASCAR's eye.  Matt was penalized two laps. 

 

There was concern all weekend about the weather.  It was a cold, raw day at the track.  There were also periods of drizzle and light rain through the day.  But the weather cooperated enough to get all 500 laps in.

 

Hendrick Motorsports was looking to both continue their recent dominance at Martinsville and net their first win of the season.  While they came up short of getting a win, the team had their best day of the season.  Pole sitter Jeff Gordon finished second, leading 90 laps.  Jimmie Johnson led 135 laps on his way to a fourth place finish.  Dale Earnhardt Jr. led a race high 146 laps on his way to a sixth place finish.  Casey Mears also had a good day.  After starting 39th, he finished seventh.

 

Another Virginia driver, Jeff Burton had a good day.  He finished 3rd.  Even with a good finish, Burton was irritated after the race at some slower cars in the closing laps that might have cost him a shot at the win.  He was mostly upset with Michael McDowell, who was in his first Sprint Cup race in the #00 car.  A bright side for Burton is that he now leads the points standings.  Kyle Busch came into the race leading the points, but he did not have a good day.  His day got off to a bad start after being spun by brother Kurt on lap 22.  Kyle finished 38th, 57 laps down.  He dropped from first to fifth in the points.

 

Other top finishers on Sunday included Tony Stewart (5th), Jamie McMurray (8th), Carl Edwards (9th) and Clint Bowyer (10th).

 

NASCAR will spend next weekend at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.  Both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will be in action in the Lone Star State.

By:  CrimsonCowboy