Hamlin Comes Out Strong

2010 was probably the most bittersweet season Denny Hamlin has ever had. He had the strongest season in his career, but made a terrible mistake at Phoenix that cost him the championship. Today in the hot temperatures of Arizona, Denny Hamlin had a strong car with a skillful crew chief. Darian Grubb, 2011 champion winning crew chief for Tony Stewart, was hired to be Hamlin's crew chief for 2012. Stewart-Haas Racing released Grubb just before the start of the 2011 Chase. As we all know, the 14 team went on to win the championship thanks to the heroic strategy of Grubb that saved Stewart from running out of fuel.

With the combination of JGR engines, Grubb and a talented driver the 11 team was able to get the job done. Hamlin ran strong for most of the race. He led a few laps toward the start of the race, but after a crucial chassis adjustment halfway through the race, his car improved tremendously. With less than 50 to go Hamlin found himself up front leading the pack. Fuel was the only wall between Hamlin and Victory Lane. Harvick was inching behind him with 10 to go and it looked like a great battle was brewing. 3 to go and Harvick's car had a fuel pressure failure. Harvick slowed down increasing the distance between him and Hamlin. Denny Hamlin had just enough fuel to make it to the end. He came across the line first earning his 18th career win and getting pay-back for his 2010 disappointment.