Michigan was not a field of dreams for Denny Hamlin. In fact, it was more like a living nightmare. He went out first to qualify and wound up starting 37th. He fought his way to a solid Top 10 running spot when the unthinkable happened. With just 6 laps to go, his engine blew up. With a bubble spot in the Chase, it was the only thing Denny was praying didn't happen. But it did.
With the frustration still on the tip of his tongue, Hamlin gave an interview and said that the team made stupid choices and they didn't deserve to be in the Chase. A logical thought after his last 3 months. Apparently, it wasn't the popular thing to say and the press crucified him over it. Kyle Petty berated him while fans booed. The media blew it all out of proportion, as they are known to do, and it insighted a near riot. Nothing like kicking a man when he's down.
With just three critical races left to the Chase cut-off, Denny knew that Bristol was a make or break night for him. Have good luck, take a quick breath. Continue your bad luck and it was time to kiss a spot in the points battle goodbye. Jeff Hammond named D Ham as one of the drivers on his list to miss the Chase.
One thing you should never do, for all those critics out there, is count Denny Hamlin out. No matter how grim things may look for him, never underestimate the power of Virginia's finest. Oh yeah, and never count out his fans. Hamlin needed a shot of self esteem and a boost of confidence and his fans delivered.
When qualifying was over, Denny was sitting a solid 21st. The same starting position he had for the Nationwide Series race on Friday night. He made his way through traffic and was running 10th when he got into the 7 car of Mike Wallace with 31 laps to go ending his night in the Food City 250.
This time when he climbed out of his crinkled 32 Dollar General Toyota, there was a smile on his face. Despite a DNF his confidence never waivered and he was happy. There was something different about Denny and I just knew that he was going to have a great Sharpie 500.
Denny Hamlin had the 11 Fed Ex Freight Toyota running in 10th spot by lap 100. He lost 3 positions following pit stops but quickly moved his way into 7th on lap 185. Hamlin reported the car was very good even though it needed more forward bite.
Crew Chief Mike Ford brought the Fed Ex Freight Toyota down pit road under caution on lap 299. Hamlin was happy with the race car and they made a chassis adjustment, put 1/2 lb of air pressure in the right rear and sent him back out in 4th spot.
With 79 laps to go, Denny passed the 24 of Jeff Gordon to take over 3rd spot and move himself up one spot to 11th in points. Then it was on. Sitting behind the 99 of Carl Edwards and the 18 of Kyle Busch, Hamlin was looking for a chance to pounce. With a caution for debris with 49 laps to go, the Fed Ex crew pulled off the money stop and put on 4 tires and filled it full of Sunoco race fuel in less than 13 seconds.
Hamlin battled back and forth with teammate Kyle Busch for 2nd while Carl Edwards sat comfortably in the lead. Denny had a front row seat for all the action between Edwards and Busch and was praying for the two to wreck each other so he could take over the cat bird seat.
It wasn't in the cards for Hamlin, but the solid third place finish lifted him in the points race and proved that patience and confidence pay off. His post race interview was incredible. While D Ham refused to let himself off the hook as far as the points battle, he did admit that a good finish was the shot of self confidence he was needing.
The team prepares for California and then heads to Hamlin's hometrack in Richmond, Virginia. With a renewed sense of confidence and a few added degrees to the fire burning in Denny Hamlin's belly, the Fed Ex team will be one tough opponent come race day.
