When Denny Hamlin came across the finish line in Martinsville I am sure he let out a big sigh of relief. Two weeks earlier he had a sure win taken away when his car failed to pick up the fuel he needed to complete the last three laps in Bristol. But he had better luck for the Goody's 500 as he fended off a late race charge by Jeff Gordon to post victory number one for 2008.
The biggest impression I took away from this race was how a car's performance can change during a long green flag run. For thirty laps you could be garbage and the next seventy your completely dialed in. Just ask Dale Earnhardt Jr., who seemed to go in and out with the performance of his AMP Chevrolet. One minute he has the car to beat, but in the end he had to fight and claw for his sixth place finish.
Wild and wacky as all Martinsville races are, it has always amazed me how they can fit 43 cars on the track, but even more amazing in the pits. The pit crews really have to be at their sharpest on this most dangerous of pit lanes on the Nascar circuit. There is absolutely no room for error or you could find yourself flat on your back from the bumper of an oncoming car. Be careful out there!!
But on a closing note, congratulations to Denny Hamlin as this home state boy came away with a well deserved victory. His teammate Tony Stewart battled all day and found himself a strong fourth place when the checkered flag fell, rubber stamping Toyota's mark on the Cup series.
But Team Hendrick put their own stamp on this race as all four cars ran strong all day. They may not have won the race but dominated the pace from the drop of the green flag, letting the competition know that the Bow Tie boys are alive and kicking. On to Texas for a high speed chase around a tricky race track, were the racing is a much different flavor then the paper clip of Martinsville.
The biggest impression I took away from this race was how a car's performance can change during a long green flag run. For thirty laps you could be garbage and the next seventy your completely dialed in. Just ask Dale Earnhardt Jr., who seemed to go in and out with the performance of his AMP Chevrolet. One minute he has the car to beat, but in the end he had to fight and claw for his sixth place finish.
Wild and wacky as all Martinsville races are, it has always amazed me how they can fit 43 cars on the track, but even more amazing in the pits. The pit crews really have to be at their sharpest on this most dangerous of pit lanes on the Nascar circuit. There is absolutely no room for error or you could find yourself flat on your back from the bumper of an oncoming car. Be careful out there!!
But on a closing note, congratulations to Denny Hamlin as this home state boy came away with a well deserved victory. His teammate Tony Stewart battled all day and found himself a strong fourth place when the checkered flag fell, rubber stamping Toyota's mark on the Cup series.
But Team Hendrick put their own stamp on this race as all four cars ran strong all day. They may not have won the race but dominated the pace from the drop of the green flag, letting the competition know that the Bow Tie boys are alive and kicking. On to Texas for a high speed chase around a tricky race track, were the racing is a much different flavor then the paper clip of Martinsville.
NASCAR
1 comment:
Hamlin has been having a pretty good year and continues to be consistent.
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