Late Race Incident Robs Hamlin of Top Five Finish at Daytona

The month of June has been good to Denny Hamlin and the #20 Rockwell Automation / JGR team as they rode a four-race, top-ten finishing streak into Daytona International Speedway.  But unloading at a track known for its high speeds and multi-car crashes, the team would need to qualify well and stay on their toes in an effort to keep the streak alive.

After struggling with a loose car through most of practice, the team made the necessary adjustments and sent the car to the line for qualifying.  After posting a lap of 182.671 mph, Hamlin would start the race in the 3rd position just behind teammate J.J. Yeley who claimed his third Busch Pole of the 2006 season.

When the green flag dropped, Hamlin fell in line behind Yeley as the two settled in at the front of the pack.  As the furious racing took place behind them, they continued to pull away.  At lap 9, Yeley battled Dale Earnhard Jr. at the front but Hamlin ducked under both cars taking the lead with a stunning three wide pass.  Hamlin would lead the next six laps as he battled Earnhardt door to door.  Finally getting a little loose, Hamlin was forced to lift, turning the lead over to Junior while Hamlin settled into the top five.  As the racing continued, the Busch Series driver’s showed a lot of patience, and by lap 45, the leaders were forced to pit under green for fuel and tires.  Hamlin brought his machine to the attention of the crew for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment.  Returning to the track in the 29th position, Hamlin quickly cycled up to the third spot once the rest of the field made their stops.  Hamlin would continue in the third position until lap 57 when the first caution of the evening flew for debris on the backstretch.    Using the caution period for more fuel and tires, Hamlin would drop to 14th position as some cars did not pit or only took two tires.  Regardless, the #20 car was strong and soon after the green flag dropped Hamlin quickly worked his way back to the front.  

On lap 70, the #60 car of Carl Edwards tried to muscle his way past the #99 car of Michael Waltrip.  The contact of the two sent the #99 car spinning up the track.  Already in the high lane, Hamlin tried to squeeze by but #99 car made contact with the rear bumper of Hamlin’s machine sending him into the wall.  The team patched the car up on pit road and Hamlin was forced to limp home in the 30th position.  The finish dropped Hamlin to fourth in the NASCAR Busch Series Driver’s standings, but only 43 points out of second.

“It was typical restrictor place racing,” commented Hamlin following the race.  “We were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.  We were close to having it cleared, but that is racing.  The frustrating thing is the car that causes the wreck goes on to finish 5th and we are sent home with a torn up race car.  The next couple weeks are some of my favorite tracks on the schedule, so we should start making up some of the points we lost.”