The surging driver reeled in a second place finish in the Federated Auto Parts 400. Track: Richmond International Raceway (oval, 0.75 miles) Race distance: 300 miles, 400 laps.
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Front row: (L-R): Brad Keselowski, Chris Buescher, Martin Truex Jr., Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Jimmie Johnson, Austin Dillon, Jamie McMurray.
“The next thing I know, he is driving across my nose on the back straightaway because he’s Tony Stewart”. Both finished in the top 10, and Newman is now just outside the top 16 in the Chase. In the next couple of corners, Stewart came down into Newman’s line and appeared to come across the nose of the vehicle, setting off a chain reaction wreck.
But Hamlin held onto the point when the race went green on Lap 405 – and held off Larson for his third win of 2016 and his 29th career cup win.
Hamlin peels off a burnout after winning the TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway in October of 2010, one of two Sprint Cup short tracks in the Virginia native’s home state where he frequently excels.
“It’s awesome”, Hamlin said. “It’s a stressful moment, so he’s going to say whatever he’s going to say”. “We still want to come here and try to win the race”.
Hendrick Motorsport’s prodigal son Chase Elliott raced his way into NASCAR’s version of the playoffs on Saturday night.
“There’s a lot on the line at this point of the season”, defending champion Kyle Busch said.
Another rookie who found hardships under the lights was Chase Elliott, who hit the wall on Lap 96 after starting in the 34th spot.
“I feel pretty good about our auto after practice”, McMurray said of his No. 1 Sherwin Williams-sponsored Chevrolet. I think we have to leave here with the mentality that we could go to (season-finale at) Homestead and give ourselves a chance. I knew we could get here.
The race was slowed by caution flags just twice, and that allowed Busch to build leads of 7 seconds or more and to put virtually the entire field a lap down. It was obvious the driver of the No.20 was none-too pleased with Keselowski once again Saturday night.
Danica Patrick had her third best finish of the season (15) following a 13 at Dover and 14 at Louden.
“This is such a great win for us”, Hamlin said. It wasn’t good there, and then we qualified and it was just a handful in qualifying.
Newman went on to add that the reason for the crash was Stewart “being bipolar and having anger issues”.
They got together with 37 laps remaining, sweeping in six other cars and bringing out a 21-minute red flag.
Newman drove for Stewart for five years before he was released at the end of the 2013 season. “I think I’ve been nervous for the last two or three weeks now”, Dillon said. “He should be retired the way he drives”. Google Tony Stewart, you’ll see all kinds of things he’s done. Look it up on YouTube, everything else.
“He’s right”, Stewart said on NBC.
“He’s right. That was the 3rd time he had driven into me during the night”. How many times does a guy get a free pass before you’ve had enough of it? But he hits me in (Turn) 1, he hits me off of (Turn) 2, and it’s like the third time by that time.
But Newman’s sole focus was on Stewart, whom the Richard Childress Racing driver lambasted in a televised interview on NBC Sports Network after being released from the infield care center. Even though it will be the same package, the teams have built better cars.
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“I’ve always liked Richmond”, said Kahne.
