Denny Hamlin went into Daytona with one big realization. The Winn Dixie 250 would be the last time he climbed behind the wheel of the #20 JGR Nationwide Series car because phenom Joey Logano was set to permanently fill the seat that had launched Hamlin's career in order to launch his own.
So Hamlin had a mission. Go out in a blaze of glory. Sounds easy enough, but this was Daytona. Not exactly Pocono, where Hamlin found great success early. But then another realization entered Hamlin's mind. The guy calling the shots from atop the pit box was Dave Rogers, the genius who had put 4 different drivers in Victory Lane with that very same car so far this season. If anyone could get it done, Dave was the man to do it. And do it he did....in impressive style.
Denny Hamlin does burnouts after winning the Winn Dixie 250 at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, July 4th
Hamlin qualified 17th for the Winn Dixie 250 and led three times for 29 laps, including the all important final lap. Hamlin was ecstatic to finish out his time behind the wheel of the car that launched his NASCAR career. "To do this with the Coca-Cola/Hardee's Toyota today -- it just means a lot. Our final ride in the No. 20 car. It feels good to do this in my last ride. Got to thank all the fans. Got to thank everyone for sticking with me. Got to thank Kyle (Busch) for sticking with me right there at the end. The only way we weren't going to win is if he actually went for the win. Just thank everyone -- Dave Rogers (crew chief) did another great job and the pit stops were great all day. Can't thank everyone -- Toyota, Hardee's, Old Spice -- everyone who sponsors this No. 20 car throughout the year."
When told that Dale Earnhardt Jr thought that Tony Stewart was racing the 20 car that night, Hamlin responded "You could take that several different ways. I think honestly a lot of the confusion is because it's the same colors as what Tony (Stewart) usually runs. I don't know. My head is a lot smaller than his -- I don't know. You could take it as I was driving a lot like Tony (Stewart), which is a compliment in my eyes. If I was driving like Tony (Stewart) on a superspeedway, I was pretty dang good so I will take it. Maybe he wouldn't have helped me if he would've knew it was me."
When asked if the JGR drivers fight to get behind the wheel of the highly successful 20 car Hamlin had this to say. "I don't think so. No discredit to Dave (Rogers) but the 18 (Kyle Busch) is very, very strong. Jason (Ratcliff, No. 18 crew chief) does a really good job. The advantage that Jason (Ratcliff) has is that he can focus even more on the races that they do run so that car is very strong when it does run. So really it doesn't
matter which one you get in but there's great communication right now between Dave (Rogers) and Jason (Ratcliff) and the guys that are head of the fabrication shop. They are all doing a really good job working together -- figuring out what we need to work on to make these cars better. We're always thinking of things we need to make better on these race cars because you can't just say, 'We're dominating. The guys are so far behind us now that they will never catch us.' They're right there and this team has been very fortunate. The 18 team has been very fortunate to get the wins that they have. Sometimes things full their way and they get the wins, but other times they have a strong race car. Here at Daytona, just because you're in the 20 car doesn't mean it's an automatic win. The best car doesn't rarely win. For me, it was going to be up to me to make it happen. When you've got a car as good as I did, it gives me some options on that race track. When you don't have that it makes it a lot tougher. I'm proud to do it for them."
It was an incredible exclamation point for a remarkable run in the ride that put the name Denny Hamlin on the map. No doubt Hamlin will always look back fondly on his time spent with the team and it's success.
So Hamlin had a mission. Go out in a blaze of glory. Sounds easy enough, but this was Daytona. Not exactly Pocono, where Hamlin found great success early. But then another realization entered Hamlin's mind. The guy calling the shots from atop the pit box was Dave Rogers, the genius who had put 4 different drivers in Victory Lane with that very same car so far this season. If anyone could get it done, Dave was the man to do it. And do it he did....in impressive style.
Denny Hamlin does burnouts after winning the Winn Dixie 250 at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, July 4thHamlin qualified 17th for the Winn Dixie 250 and led three times for 29 laps, including the all important final lap. Hamlin was ecstatic to finish out his time behind the wheel of the car that launched his NASCAR career. "To do this with the Coca-Cola/Hardee's Toyota today -- it just means a lot. Our final ride in the No. 20 car. It feels good to do this in my last ride. Got to thank all the fans. Got to thank everyone for sticking with me. Got to thank Kyle (Busch) for sticking with me right there at the end. The only way we weren't going to win is if he actually went for the win. Just thank everyone -- Dave Rogers (crew chief) did another great job and the pit stops were great all day. Can't thank everyone -- Toyota, Hardee's, Old Spice -- everyone who sponsors this No. 20 car throughout the year."
When told that Dale Earnhardt Jr thought that Tony Stewart was racing the 20 car that night, Hamlin responded "You could take that several different ways. I think honestly a lot of the confusion is because it's the same colors as what Tony (Stewart) usually runs. I don't know. My head is a lot smaller than his -- I don't know. You could take it as I was driving a lot like Tony (Stewart), which is a compliment in my eyes. If I was driving like Tony (Stewart) on a superspeedway, I was pretty dang good so I will take it. Maybe he wouldn't have helped me if he would've knew it was me."
When asked if the JGR drivers fight to get behind the wheel of the highly successful 20 car Hamlin had this to say. "I don't think so. No discredit to Dave (Rogers) but the 18 (Kyle Busch) is very, very strong. Jason (Ratcliff, No. 18 crew chief) does a really good job. The advantage that Jason (Ratcliff) has is that he can focus even more on the races that they do run so that car is very strong when it does run. So really it doesn't
matter which one you get in but there's great communication right now between Dave (Rogers) and Jason (Ratcliff) and the guys that are head of the fabrication shop. They are all doing a really good job working together -- figuring out what we need to work on to make these cars better. We're always thinking of things we need to make better on these race cars because you can't just say, 'We're dominating. The guys are so far behind us now that they will never catch us.' They're right there and this team has been very fortunate. The 18 team has been very fortunate to get the wins that they have. Sometimes things full their way and they get the wins, but other times they have a strong race car. Here at Daytona, just because you're in the 20 car doesn't mean it's an automatic win. The best car doesn't rarely win. For me, it was going to be up to me to make it happen. When you've got a car as good as I did, it gives me some options on that race track. When you don't have that it makes it a lot tougher. I'm proud to do it for them."It was an incredible exclamation point for a remarkable run in the ride that put the name Denny Hamlin on the map. No doubt Hamlin will always look back fondly on his time spent with the team and it's success.
1 comment:
I attended this race, Denny raced hard for the finish. It was a neck in neck race at times against Kyle Busch and Dale Jr. We were sitting at the finish line when Denny came across the finishing lap. Denny this was a job well done, with no doubt you would win. D
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