For Carl Edwards, this 2005 race at Atlanta Motor Speedway meant that he had finally reached the pinnacle, passing Jimmie Johnson, on the high side, in the final lap, to capture his first career NASCAR win.
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This was an unbelievable day for the Joe Gibbs Racing team, who won their first Daytona 500 in 23 years.
As an elementary schooler, Hamlin had his eyes set on a hefty prize, understanding that a win in one of the sport’s most famous races would pay well. That year he won eight races, produced 17 top-five and 21 top-10 finishes, but placed 10th in the standings.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., seeking his third Daytona 500 victory, came up empty as he tried to force his way through the field late in the race.
On Lap 56, last year’s victor, Joey Logano checked up coming out of Turn 4 and was hit from behind by Brian Vickers, who went on a lurid spin in the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet.
It also was Toyota’s first Daytona 500 victory. With Kenseth being freight-trained by the lead cars, Hamlin and Truex were left to battle for the win. Stuck in the back of the top five Hamlin went to the outside of leader Matt Kenseth, who sensed Hamlin’s speed and attempted to block up top.
Hamlin was presented with the traditional champion’s jacket, and a steel and gold Rolex Cosmograph Daytona watch – which he’ll need to stay on schedule for the media frenzy ahead. The 500 just didn’t feel the same without him on the track. I’ve not been shy in the past in bashing FOX coverage from the broadcast booth, but the addition of Gordon is going to be a real bonus and one that for this writer at least will lessen some of the shouty WE ARE FOX SPORTS stuff to which we are more often than not subjected.
“I saw (Harvick) coming”.
“If not, I was going to be PISSED”, he added smiling. “It’s insane, it happened so fast”.
Eau Claire native Paul Menard finished Sunday’s Daytona 500 in 18th place after starting 37th.
“This is a total team effort from Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota, Martin Truex and those guys – all of our cars up front at the end”.
Denny Hamlin held off Martin Truex Jr. to win Sunday’s 58th Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway by. But the three-time Super Bowl winning coach was focused only on the “Great American Race” and his four drivers brainstormed on the best way to get a win for Gibbs.
“The thrill in football, you can’t get any more excited than that, winning a Super Bowl. Never give up on your dreams”. I’ve had two from an occupational standpoint.
“He’s the guy that took a chance on me”, Hamlin told reporters. And after the winning move he used on teammate Matt Kenseth in the middle of Turns 3 and 4, he certainly deserves it.
“I was trying to be amusing”, Gibbs said. “I saw the pylon change and blink at the last second for the 11 (his vehicle number)”. It’s hard to make those decisions. “I haven’t got a championship yet”. It’s the biggest race of my life. We were not ready.
“There’s a million things you could do differently”, Kenseth said.
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His biggest victory until now was in the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. I think the first time I cried in this sport was 2010 when Denny came to Homestead with a 15-point lead and we lost. “I haven’t got a championship yet, so this is obviously the biggest win for myself”, Hamlin said.
