Hamlin Wins Under Full Moon at Darlington
Denny Hamlin claimed his first NASCAR Busch Series win on United States soil Friday night under a full moon at the Lady in Black. Hamlin pulled away from Matt Kenseth in a two-lap shootout to win the Diamond Hill Plywood 200 at Darlington Raceway by 0.353 seconds. The win is Hamlin's second this season, with his first win coming on the road course in Mexico City. Hamlin becomes the first NASCAR Busch Series driver to win from the pole this year. Hamlin's pit crew was a big key to his victory, getting him out of the pits in first place following a caution on lap 116. Hamlin held off Kenseth and his Roush Racing teammates with tremendous restarts following the remaining four cautions over the final 25 laps. Kenseth settled for second place, while Jamie McMurray came home in third. Mark Martin, the all-time leader in NASCAR Busch Series wins at Darlington with eight, was fourth, followed by Greg Biffle in fifth. Hamlin’s win now makes Nextel Cup regulars 12-for-12 on the Busch Series, shutting out the Busch Series regulars this season.
Hamlin On NBS Pole in Darlington
Denny Hamlin will start from the pole position for tonight’s NASCAR Busch Series event at Darlington Raceway. Hamlin’s qualifying lap for the Diamond Hill Plywood 200 was clocked in at 29.329 seconds, at an average speed of 167.670 mph, around the 1.366-mile egg-shaped oval. For Hamlin, this is his third Busch Pole of the 2006 season. He won back-to-back poles at Texas and Nashville earlier this year. Carl Edwards qualified in the second position but hit the wall on his second lap and will have to start at the rear of the field. Kasey Kahne, who earlier won the NASCAR NEXTEL Series Bud Pole, qualified in the third position. Jamie McMurray and Matt Kenseth round out the top-five starting spots for this evening’s race.
