The nerve endings in Hamlin’s back were completely on fire. The two met face-to-face a couple of times, and A-Rod said he asked for one more chance to play in front of a NY crowd.
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“I started getting checked-up and I think the No. 23 (Ragan) hit me from behind and we all just kind of piled in there”, said Harvick, who finished 32nd.
“When I saw them move forward and lunge into the corner, I knew there was no way for them to get out with any sensible speed”, Hamlin said. He did manage a slight smile during the victory celebration, savoring his first road-course victory and upping his career win total to 28. The 45-year-old three-time Cup champion, who’s retiring at season’s end, has reverted to form, heating up in the dog days of summer. This is a good time. “I’ve finally won at all of the (types of) race tracks, so it’s a great accomplishment for us”. We had a good race auto.
Lap leaders: C. Edwards 1-25; M. Truex Jr.
RED FLAG II: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s loss of control over a curb in Turn 7 on Lap 53 promoted a multi-car accident that cued a red flag.
Jeff Gordon, making another start in the No. 88 Hendrick Chevrolet for Dale Earnhardt Jr., was the first to be penalized for speeding when he pitted early on lap 13 to fix damage to the front of his auto after an incident in the Inner Loop. Contact to Truex Jr.’s left rear bumper from Keselowski’s Ford, sent his #78 Toyota spinning.
The seasoned veteran was not happy with the careless driving that cost him six positions in the event.
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (AP) – Denny Hamlin wasn’t about to get shoved aside again. He went wide off turn 10 and as he tried to set up Hamlin for a pass off turn 11, he got bumped by Keselowski. “I went high, and the 78 went high, and by then I was already deep in the corner and got into him and turned him. It’s hard to say I’m not really sure what to expect”. You make a commitment before you know what is going to happen and I made a commitment and it didn’t work out. “Kyle just got caught up in something that we never should have been around”. I hit him from behind and that is my fault.
Joey Logano finished second while Brad Keselowski was third. Teammate Keselowski regrouped to take third place. Stewart scored his fifth top-five run in his last seven starts this season…. As a result, he completed his stellar career with eight road wins, just one fewer than the record nine of Jeff Gordon.
Dillon was running 17 when suddenly slowed down going into the inner loop, and when he did, Gordon’s No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet ran into the back of him. Gordon was solid after damaging his front end in the early stages of the contest and finished 14th.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series takes next weekend off before returning to action on Saturday, August 20th at Bristol Motor Speedway. Stewart, speaking after Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen, did not sound promising about Clauson’s recovery. The prodigy will miss at least two more races.
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Posing with unique Cheez-It winner’s trophy Denny Hamlin enjoys spoils of victory. Despite a barrage of late caution flags throughout the race, the leaders stayed on track because there was no benefit to changing tires.
