Hamlin Suffers Engine Problems at Talladega

Heading to the largest track on the NASCAR Busch Series circuit, the #20 Rockwell Automation / JGR team loaded up a car built for speed.  But running the longest race of the season (312 miles) on a track known for accidents that swallow large amounts of cars at one time, anything can happen.

On Thursday, the #20 Rockwell Automation Chevrolet was fast and easily posted times in the top ten in both practices.  The following day, Hamlin continued to show the strength of his machine as he qualified third with a lap of 183.931 mph.  It was a good day for Joe Gibbs Racing as teammate J.J. Yeley scored his second pole of the season.

“This just goes to show you how well the two teams are working together,” commented Hamlin following his run.  “To have both cars in the top three is something special.  It would have been neat to have both cars on the front row, but it is probably better this way, so I can push J.J. to the front and hopefully we can run around up there for a while and try to stay out of trouble.”

Under cloudy and windy condition, the green flag flew on the start of the Aaron’s 312.  Hamlin did push Yeley to the front of the field; however, as the outside drafting lane started to gain momentum they dropped back a little.  Hamlin would run as high as second and fall as far back as 10th as patient Busch Series field allowed for an unusual long green flag run.  As Hamlin played the drafting game of running the high line, the low line and sometimes in the middle of three wide, his car was strong but had trouble finding other cars to help him back to the top spot in the field.  

On lap 40, Crew Chief Dave Rogers called for Hamlin to head to pit road for tires and fuel.  As he did several other cars also ducked on pit road for service.  After returning to the track, Hamlin was back in 39th position when an untimely caution flew on lap 42 just as the remainder of the field was about to make their pit stops.  The #20 car would be caught one lap down in the 38th position.  During this caution period, Hamlin called in that something sounded off with the car’s engine.  After the leaders pitted, Hamlin moved behind the pace car.  Rogers instructed Hamlin to remain on the track and focus on getting back on the lead lap.  They would work on the engine during the  next caution.

“I had hoped to make this race a two stop race,” commented Rogers after the race.  “The plan we had going into the race was to stop at lap 40 and lap 80, if we had long green flag runs.  We weren’t getting the best fuel mileage in the garage and wanted to make sure we did not run out of gas on such a big track, especially before the first stop.   The other leaders were only a lap away from pitting, so we just got bit with some bad luck.”

As the race restarted, Hamlin struggled to stay in front of the pack, but was running as the first car one lap down when the caution flew for Tony Stewart’s horrific accident on lap 67.  The team brought the car to pit road and lifted the hood.  Everything looked good initially under the hood, but the team decided on the next stop to change the battery and carburetor in an effort to still pull out the victory.  Hamlin took a conservative approach running at the back of the pack to insure he was not collected in any additional accidents.  When the caution flew on lap 100, Hamlin brought the machine to pit road for the changes.  As quick as the #20 team could, the changes were made on the machine; however, they did lose a lap in the process.  When the race restarted, the problem had not been fixed and Hamlin was forced to settle for a 30th place finish, one lap down to the leader.  After the race, it was determined that a part broke and left Hamlin racing on seven cylinders.

“This is a tough way to end the race,” said Hamlin after the race.  “This is a great car and we were definitely capable of winning this thing.  I am proud of my guys and all their hard work especially on pit road.  We have the best horsepower in the garage and rarely have problems in this department.  But next week, we get the best medicine I know of: a short track.”