NASCAR: Hamlin wins in front of his home town crowd, Kennington 27th

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It was Denny Hamlin's most important win. Indeed, according to the No 20 Toyota Camry driver, winning the 250-mile NASCAR Nationwide race in front of his home crowd at the Richmond International Raceway in Virginia meant more than winning any other race. Hamlin, who started 3rd, took advantage of a very late yellow flag situation to pit and get new tires while leaders Kevin Harvick (Chevy No 33), Carl Edwards (Ford No 60) and Mike Bliss (Chevy No 1) stayed on the track. The gambled proved positive as Hamlin was able to pass them all and, though there was a last-minute yellow flag situation that ended up in a green-white-checker situation, held on to grab the checkered in front of Harvick, Kyle Busch (Camry No 32), David Ragan (Ford No 6) and Steve Wallace (Chevy No 64). Canadian D.J. Kennington (Dodge No 81) drove another conservative race that helped him finish 27th but put him in 22nd place in the championship standings. And the season is far from over!