Hamlin Consistent in Loudon, Scores Eighth Top-Five Finish

Facing minor setbacks at the last two races, the #20 Rockwell Automation / JGR Busch Team headed to the “Magic Mile” at New Hampshire International Speedway to compete in the New England 200.  The track was home to the #20 team’s best finish in 2005 (3rd) and looked to be the best prescription for the struggles over the last two weekends.  

The team brought car #2043 as the primary machine for the race in Loudon.  Typically described as Denny Hamlin’s favorite car in the JGR garage, this is also the same car that ran so well at the Milwaukee Mile earlier this year (won the pole position & finished 2nd).  While facing record high temperatures in New Hampshire on Friday, it was evident that the team was in for a solid weekend following the two practice sessions.  The team had managed to produce the third fastest times in both of the sessions.  Maybe more importantly was the fact that the #20 was completing its fastest lap times late into practice session laps, meaning the car would be very competitive in long green flag runs.  With qualifying set for 11:15 am on Saturday, the team was confident in their overall setup and looked forward to a top-five starting position.

The #20 team went out 31st in qualifying on Saturday.  After posting a lap time of 29.783 seconds (127.714 mph), the #20 car sat in the second spot.  Getting bumped down one more place by eventual pole winner, Kyle Busch, Hamlin would start the race in the 3rd position.

“We just were really loose,” commented Hamlin following his run.  “This track tends to tighten up a lot during the race, so I think we will be pretty good as the race wears on.  This is a tough place to pass and track position is important, so at least we are going to start up front and have a good look at the green flag.”

With the threat of thunderstorms in the area, and the #20 team bringing an extremely competitive car to the track, it was going to be up to some hard-nosed driving on the part of Denny Hamlin and effective pit strategy by Crew Chief Dave Rogers to maintain track position all day.  As the green flag dropped in Loudon on Saturday, it was clear that the #20 team would be in for some intense racing on the one mile, flat track.  Hamlin quickly jumped to the second position and maintained there for 35 laps until a tight condition forced him to surrender the spot.  Following 54 laps of green flag racing, the first caution of the day flew for debris and all of the eighteen lead lap cars headed to pit road for tires, fuel and adjustments.  With the #20 crew at the top of its game, Hamlin exited pit road maintaining his 3rd position.

The next 20 laps were cluttered with aggressive driving and subsequent cautions, but then the field settled in for a long green flag run.  With most of the leaders only able to make it to lap 149 on fuel, several tried to short pit on lap 140 to gain positions on the field.  Rogers chose to keep Hamlin on the track and his patience paid off as the caution flag flew on lap 147 with Hamlin remaining at the front of the field.  As he followed the leaders to pit road, Rogers continued to adjust for the tight condition and returned Hamlin to the field in the 3rd position.  As Hamlin continued to battle during the final laps, he would be forced to settle for a 3rd place finish.

“We were just too tight during the final run to do anything with the leaders,” said Hamlin following the race.  “We just struggled to keep up with the track.  It is tough because in a Busch race you only have a couple stops to adjust on your car and you want to be careful not to go too far.  It was a good day for us, so we will take this finish and head to one of my favorite tracks on the circuit.”

Carrying momentum with a solid third place finish and maintaining their fourth place standing in the Busch Series Driver Points, the #20 team heads to Martinsville, Virginia.  The Busch Series heads back to the legendary half-mile paperclip at Martinsville Speedway for the first time since 1994.  The Goody’s 250 is scheduled to begin at 3:30 pm. EST on Saturday July 22nd and will broadcast on NBC.