Hamlin Scores Top-15 at Pikes Peak

After scoring their first top five finish of the season, Denny Hamlin and the #20 Team took the long hike out to Pikes Peak, CO for the running of the ITT “Salute the Troops” 250. Taking a car similar to last week, the team was excited to unload at the one mile flat track of PPIR.
 
With the mountain area receiving record highs, the team practiced in mid 90’s conditions. The track was slick as the team struggled to find grip for their #20 machine. Using both practices, they finally broke into the top ten on the scoring monitor. With qualifying later that day, the team was a little aggressive with their setup and the car was much too loose to be competitive. Hamlin would start the race in the 19 ^th position.
 
As the race started, Hamlin was confident he still had a fast car. He began to work his way to the front early, grabbing five positions in the first 15 laps. Reporting the car was a little tight, especially in the center, Barraclough called for Hamlin to follow the leaders down pit road during the first caution. Making a minor adjustment to the car, Hamlin returned in the 12 ^th position.
During the next 60 laps, Hamlin was a machine working his way as high as the 6 ^th position. The car was still a little tight but Hamlin continued to be one of the fastest cars on the track. During the long green flag run, he tried several different lines in attempt to run faster times. When they were about 20 laps from a pit stop, the caution flew and Hamlin made his second stop of the day.
 
Not wanting to be too aggressive on the changes, Barraclough made only a minor air adjustment and returned Hamlin to the track. After the restart, Hamlin struggled with a tight race car and heavy lap traffic. The changes Barraclough made did not agree with the machine and Hamlin began to lose positions. After dropping back to the 11 ^th position, they welcomed the caution flag on lap 164. Team Rock turned around one of their best stops of the day changing four tires and adding ½ a turn of wedge in 13.53 seconds. Returning to the track in the 7 ^th position, Hamlin was ready to take it to the front.
 
As the race restarted, the machine that was tight all day, was now way too loose. Although Hamlin fought hard for every position, as the race continued, he began losing positions. After dropping back to 12 ^th with 50 laps to go the team flirted with the idea of bringing him to pit road for a late pit stop, but with 28 cars still on the lead lap they would give up way too much valuable track position. Hamlin wrestled the car home in the 14 ^th position.
 
“I can’t believe how loose this car went during the final run,” commented Hamlin following the race. “We were just a tick tight all day and as soon as we made a small wedge adjustment, it just killed the car. We fought the same problem with this car earlier in the year at Nashville. It would be just a little tight, but as soon as you touched the wedge, it became too loose to drive. I think we need to turn this car into “I can’t believe how loose this car went during the final run,” commented Hamlin following the race. “We were just a tick tight all day and as soon as we made a small wedge adjustment, it just killed the car. We fought the same problem with this car earlier in the year at Nashville. It would be just a little tight, but as soon as you touched the wedge, it became too loose to drive. I think we need to turn this car into a show car.”