(By Greg Engle)
Posted: Monday,November 23rd, 2009
(By Sarah Farlee, CupScene.com Senior Staff Writer)
Homestead, Fla., - As the checkers fell on 2009, teams already look to next season – and solid runs in the season finale builds momentum heading into the off season.
The season finale proved to be a momentum builder for several Sprint Cup teams. Denny Hamlin may have gotten the biggest boost by driving to victory lane in Sunday’s Ford 400 at the Homestead Miami Speedway.
Hamlin’s fourth win of the season may have been overshadowed by Jimmie Johnson’s history making feat of winning four consecutive Sprint Cup championships, but for Hamlin it proves what is yet to come.
HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 22: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 22, 2009 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)
“We’re going to be there in the next couple years,” said Hamlin. “We’re going to win a championship.”
Hamlin has had an up and down Chase with three DNF’s, but Hamlin did beat Johnson in five of the ten Chase races.
“I think we’re showing we have that strength to compete with those guys,” said Hamlin.
Also showing strength in the finale was Richard Childress Racing. The four car team has notably struggled in 2009 enduring personnel changes midseason and failing to put a car in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Jeff Burton was second for the second week in a row.
“Obviously it’s been a really good 4 weeks,” said Burton of the weeks following personnel moves within the organization, “The effort is there. Everybody did there part and I came up a little short.”
Kevin Harvick also came up a little short of the race win, but had a solid top-three finish.
“It’s been a 180 degree turnaround,” said Harvick, who led 56 laps on his way to a third place finish.
“We can’t sit on our hands,” added Harvick, referring to the upcoming off season. “We have to worry about making our stuff better than it is today.”
Chasers Kurt Busch finished fourth and Johnson rounded out the top-five on his way to his fourth consecutive Sprint Cup championship.
Jeff Gordon finished sixth, Carl Edwards finished seventh and Kyle Busch finished eighth. Martin Truex, Jr. in his final race with Earnhardt-Ganassi finished ninth. AJ Allmendinger rounded out the top-10.
Mark Martin was set to give Johnson a battle, but only came up with a 12th place finish, while Greg Biffle ended the night 14th. Kasey Kahne finished 17th and Brian Vickers finished 20th. Ryan Newman would end the night 23rd.
Chasers Tony Stewart and Juan Pablo Montoya exchanged bumps on the race track. Montoya brought out the third caution on lap 116 when a flat tire forced him up into the wall. The tire was a result of contact between the two drivers after Montoya rear ended Stewart - who then ran Montoya down the track, cutting the right front tire. Both drivers were warned via their crew chiefs to avoid further contact, but Montoya missed the message.
On lap 155 Montoya got back at Stewart by bumping him in the back and sending Stewart down to the inside wall to bring out caution number five. Stewart would have only minor damage. Montoya would be held two laps for aggressive driving and was warned by NASCAR that further driving of the same nature would find the No. 42 in the hauler for the remainder of the season.
Stewart finished 22nd and Montoya finished 38th, 32 laps down.
Share on Facebook - Email this page: 
Rate this article:
What's Your Take?You must be logged in to post a comment.
|
