Hamlin Wins, Chase Field is Set at Richmond

Originally written for CLNS Radio.

Denny Hamlin won the Federated Auto Parts 400 from Richmond International Speedway on Saturday night.

Hamlin won from the pole and led 189 laps.  Hamlin said his team gave him a fast car for the weekend.  

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“Our cars are really running well,” Hamlin said.  “Finally everything just kind of worked well for us all day.  Really got it dialed in there for the last half of the race.”  

The race was the final race before NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup.  The playoff field was set following the checkered flag, with Chase Elliott, Austin Dillon and Jamie McMurray making it in on points, along with the other 13 winners from this season.

Hamlin said this win will give his team the momentum they need heading into the final 10 weeks of the season.

“We’ve got everything going well for us.  Proud of this whole team; everything’s been great.  Hopefully we’ll go on another Chase run.”

The Chase kicks off next weekend at Chicagoland.  For Chris Buescher, Kyle Larson, Elliott and Dillon, it will be their first trip to NASCAR’s playoff.

Elliott said his team is looking forward to fighting for a championship all the way to the finale at Homestead.

“We’re excited about these next 10,” Elliott said.  “I think we have to go in with the mentality that we give ourselves a chance at Homestead; if not, we should have let the next one in.”

Unofficial results:

1. Denny Hamlin

2. Kyle Larson

3. Martin Truex Jr.

4. Brad Keselowski

5. Kevin Harvick

6. Kasey Kahne

7. Jamie McMurray

8. Kurt Busch

9. Kyle Busch

10. Joey Logano

11. Jimmie Johnson

12. Michael McDowell

13. Austin Dillon

14. Trevor Bayne

15. Danica Patrick

16. Jeff Gordon

17. Aric Almirola

18. Chase Elliott

19. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

20. AJ Allmendinger

21. Casey Mears

22. Clint Bowyer

23. Greg Biffle

24. Chris Buescher

25. Dylan Lupton

26. Reed Sorenson

27. Jeffrey Earnhardt

28. Ryan Newman

29. Regan Smith

30. Josh Wise

31. Michael Annett

32. Carl Edwards

33. Tony Stewart

34. David Ragan

35. Brian Scott

36. Landon Cassill

37. Matt DiBenedetto

38. Matt Kenseth

39. Ryan Blaney

40. Paul Menard

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