Racing Denny Hamlin Wins the Irwin Tools 500 at Bristol

[Leafsfan1967]

STORY: http://www.nascar.com/news/120825/dhamlin-bristol-cup-august-winner/index.html

RESULTS: http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2012/24/data/results_unofficial.html

POINTS STANDINGS: http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2012/data/standings.html

RACE RECAP VIDEO: http://espn.go.com/racing/nascar/cu...enny-hamlin-picks-first-win-bristol-late-pass

Hamlin wins action-packed Cup race at Bristol
By NASCAR Wire Service

BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Denny Hamlin saved his best for the last stretch of Saturday's IRWIN Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, and his persistence paid off with the No. 11 team's third win of the season in 24 Sprint Cup Series races.

"It's Bristol -- I don't know what to say, man," Hamlin said as he crossed the finish line. "I'm so damn happy."

After a heated battle, Hamlin passed Carl Edwards for the lead on Lap 462 but didn't clear the No. 99 Ford until both drivers traded shots. As Edwards faded, Hamlin pulled away to beat Jimmie Johnson to the checkered fl1.103 seconds.

Jeff Gordon ran third, followed by Brian Vickers and Marcos Ambrose.

Greg Biffle (19th), runner-up Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (12th) clinched berths in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

On the newly-ground surface at the .533-mile short track, the race featured 13 cautions and plenty of emotion.

No wreck was more significant to the outcome of the race -- or to the Cup standings, for that matter -- than Tony Stewart's dustup with Matt Kenseth on Lap 332. Stewart had the faster car, but Kenseth had the race lead, and their cars collided as they powered through Turn 4, with Stewart to the outside.

Repeated contact between the cars turned both sideways as they crossed the start/finish line. Kenseth's Ford careened into the inside wall at the end of the frontstretch, with Stewart's Chevrolet slamming into Kenseth's car.

Kenseth's car was wounded, but he drove away from the wreck. Stewart climbed from his car and slung his helmet squarely into the nose of Kenseth's car.

"We weren't that great of a race car, but we were definitely faster than [Kenseth's car] after that restart [on Lap 329]," Stewart said while his car spent 25 laps in the garage for repairs. "I checked up twice to not run over him, and I learned my lesson there.

"I'm going to run over him every chance I've got from now till the end of the year -- every chance I've got."

Stewart finished 27th and Kenseth 25th.

A late wreck relegated Danica Patrick to 29th in her fourth Cup start.

 

[ranbethscards]

Hamlin wanted the win more than anyone else.

Not sure what really happened between Kenseth and Stewart...but I think Smoke will get a slap on the hand for the helmet throw...points? $$$? ... and Stewart's post race comments sure didn't help his "Kenseth wrecked me intentionally" explanation. NASCAR does not take the "every chance I get I'll wreck him" comments lightly!

Danica...walking back up the track to point her finger at Regan? lol...that was hilarious!

And it's sad to think that Edwards could possibly sneak into the Chase by bumping Stewart from the 10th Spot...and then we would have two (2) wild card entries with more wins than most of the Chase entries. ...and three (3) entries with ZERO wins.

 

[Leafsfan1967]

Hamlin wanted the win more than anyone else.

Not sure what really happened between Kenseth and Stewart...but I think Smoke will get a slap on the hand for the helmet throw...points? $$$? ... and Stewart's post race comments sure didn't help his "Kenseth wrecked me intentionally" explanation. NASCAR does not take the "every chance I get I'll wreck him" comments lightly!

Danica...walking back up the track to point her finger at Regan? lol...that was hilarious!

And it's sad to think that Edwards could possibly sneak into the Chase by bumping Stewart from the 10th Spot...and then we would have two (2) wild card entries with more wins than most of the Chase entries. ...and three (3) entries with ZERO wins.

I thought Hamlin was done when he got hit on exiting his pit box. Great recovery!

Danica really has to start sticking up for herself, or she's gonna get bumped, and turned every race. It's almost like the good ole boys don't want her out there, and are purposely wrecking her. She had a great race going up to that point, it's too bad she got turned by Smith.

I watched the replay several times, and it looks like to me Matt just got loose, and shoved up into Tony a tad in the corner, and itlooks like to me Tony retaliated, and turned into Matt a couple times wrecking them both. That's how I see it. I don't blame Kenseth for that wreck. He got loose, and moved up the track into Stewart a little, there was nothing he could do. Stewart is an idiot anyways, it's always somebody elses fault, never his.

Edwards has had a brutal year he doesn't deserve a spot in the chase.

 

[wheeler281]

I thought Hamlin was done when he got hit on exiting his pit box. Great recovery!

Danica really has to start sticking up for herself, or she's gonna get bumped, and turned every race. It's almost like the good ole boys don't want her out there, and are purposely wrecking her. She had a great race going up to that point, it's too bad she got turned by Smith.

I agree especially the one about Danica