Denny Hamlin’s successful long green run, on the Martinsville short track, narrowed the gap on Jimmie Johnson to just six points for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
Denny Hamlin, who started from the pole, faded early falling to 15th, but, didn’t give up.
Yet he admitted he was counting how many points behind he had lost -- at that time.
"After the first run today when my car went completely backwards, I was sweating it. We continued to fight and persevere and come to the front."
In winning his third-straight race at the paper-clip shaped half-mile track it was more about patience than domination. "This is one of my more gratifying victories," Denny Hamlin added.
Mark Martin who likewise fell back in the field, two laps down due to a hit from behind by AJ Allmendinger on lap 225, came back to finish second. He also appreciated long green runs versus short stints.
The 51-year old Martin was grinning like a teenager after the race, "that was so much fun, and it was such a bad day," he said. He had lost his brakes around lap 30 "I thought it was going to be the longest day of my life," he said.
At the end he felt he might have claimed the victory over Hamlin. "Another 20 laps we could have caught him," Mark Martin added.
Compare that to Jimmie Johnson who finished fifth behind Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch.
The long runs, which helped the first two finishers, hurt Johnson’s chances for extending his points lead as he explained “we made our bed today because we didn’t have the car for the long haul.”
He added “it was a good day. We were much stronger on the short runs. Wish we were a little better.”
Ironically, there were plenty of cautions early in the race but not when the four-time and defending champion needed them “I wasn't counting on getting a caution. Not complaining, but it is odd sometimes."
By finishing ahead of Johnson, Kevin Harvick kept his championship hopes alive as he’s 62 points out of first place.
Kevin Harvick said “what everybody said was a two-horse race and we were right there in the middle of it. So, it's a lot of fun. Right now we've got four more weeks. I'm looking forward to Talladega and just racing hard.”
That late race battle with Burton was Hamlin’s key to the win because the two Richard Childress Racing drivers wore out their cars on that last 92-lap green flag run leaving Hamlin to pick up the pieces as he took second with 47 laps to go and the lead for good with 30 laps to go.
"We didn’t have a race winning car until the very end," Hamlin said adding his crew "got me from sixth to third on the last restart. I was hoping the 29(Hamlin) and 31 (Burton) would wear themselves out. I was sitting there."
Denny Hamlin said he’s happy now. "This is just about best case scenario. I like being behind and chasing a guy. I do not like playing defense at all."
Denny Hamlin, who started from the pole, faded early falling to 15th, but, didn’t give up.
Yet he admitted he was counting how many points behind he had lost -- at that time.
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| Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick battled side-by-side for the lead until Hamlin pulled in front on lap 471. (Photo: John Harrelson/Getty Images) |
"After the first run today when my car went completely backwards, I was sweating it. We continued to fight and persevere and come to the front."
In winning his third-straight race at the paper-clip shaped half-mile track it was more about patience than domination. "This is one of my more gratifying victories," Denny Hamlin added.
Mark Martin who likewise fell back in the field, two laps down due to a hit from behind by AJ Allmendinger on lap 225, came back to finish second. He also appreciated long green runs versus short stints.
The 51-year old Martin was grinning like a teenager after the race, "that was so much fun, and it was such a bad day," he said. He had lost his brakes around lap 30 "I thought it was going to be the longest day of my life," he said.
At the end he felt he might have claimed the victory over Hamlin. "Another 20 laps we could have caught him," Mark Martin added.
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| Denny Hamlin celebrates his win in Victory Lane at Martinsville Speedway. (Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) |
Compare that to Jimmie Johnson who finished fifth behind Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch.
The long runs, which helped the first two finishers, hurt Johnson’s chances for extending his points lead as he explained “we made our bed today because we didn’t have the car for the long haul.”
He added “it was a good day. We were much stronger on the short runs. Wish we were a little better.”
Ironically, there were plenty of cautions early in the race but not when the four-time and defending champion needed them “I wasn't counting on getting a caution. Not complaining, but it is odd sometimes."
By finishing ahead of Johnson, Kevin Harvick kept his championship hopes alive as he’s 62 points out of first place.
Kevin Harvick said “what everybody said was a two-horse race and we were right there in the middle of it. So, it's a lot of fun. Right now we've got four more weeks. I'm looking forward to Talladega and just racing hard.”
That late race battle with Burton was Hamlin’s key to the win because the two Richard Childress Racing drivers wore out their cars on that last 92-lap green flag run leaving Hamlin to pick up the pieces as he took second with 47 laps to go and the lead for good with 30 laps to go.
"We didn’t have a race winning car until the very end," Hamlin said adding his crew "got me from sixth to third on the last restart. I was hoping the 29(Hamlin) and 31 (Burton) would wear themselves out. I was sitting there."
Denny Hamlin said he’s happy now. "This is just about best case scenario. I like being behind and chasing a guy. I do not like playing defense at all."