Could it really be true love between Denny Hamlin and Dover?
So far, it’s at least a crush.
His performance today will really determine the fate of this relationship.
Trying his best to adjust his approach toward his least favorite track, Hamlin’s reignited courtship produced fantastic results Saturday when he turned a lap of 159.299 mph to win the pole at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del.
Hamlin has been open in his disdain for the 1-mile concrete oval and knew he’d have to conquer his Dover demons to keep his driven bid for his first career Cup championship rolling along.
Hamlin, third in the points standings, turned to a sports psychologist for advice. The message for Hamlin was this, “Let your challenge for the week be to fall in love with this track.”
Hamlin says the good karma, and a great No. 11 Toyota, all played a part in the turnaround.
“I think that right now we have everything rolling,” Hamlin said. “That part of it is giving me a ton of confidence.”
Hamlin is six points behind Brad Keselowski and seven points behind leader Jimmie Johnson.
Johnson starts 11th as he chases history at Dover. He raced his way into the track’s history books in June with his seventh win on the concrete, matching the mark held by Hall of Fame drivers Richard Petty and Bobby Allison.
Johnson led 289 of the 400 laps and looked every bit like the driver who swept the two Cup races at Dover in 2002 and 2009. Johnson also won at Dover on Sept. 26, 2010 and he won the September 2005 race.
Dover has traditionally given Hamlin fits. He has an average finish of 20.5 in 13 career starts at Dover. He finished 36th or worse during a four-race stretch from 2007 to 2009. He’s said he just doesn’t like the track known as the Monster Mile.
Here’s a curve. On Saturday, he talked about winning.
“We’ve got a car that’s very capable of staying in the front and hopefully we’ll have a shot to win,” Hamlin said.
Nine other Chase for the Sprint Cup championship drivers filled the top 13. Clint Bowyer starts second and Martin Truex Jr. is third. Cancouver, Wash.’s Greg Biffle and Jeff Gordon start sixth and seventh. Enumclaw’s Kasey Kahne, Keselowski, Johnson, Matt Kenseth and Kevin Harvick are ninth through 13th. Stewart starts 24th and Dale Earnhardt Jr. is 25th for today’s 400-mile race.
LOGANO WINS AGAIN
Joey Logano dominated on the concrete to win the Nationwide Series race at Dover International Speedway.
Logano led 184 of the 200 laps in the No. 18 Toyota and raced to his series-leading seventh victory of the season. He won his 16th race in 105 career Nationwide starts. Logano moved into a tie for 16th on the career victory list in Nationwide.
“My monster trophy from last time was lonely and needed a friend,” Logano said. “I’m glad I was able to get one for him.”
Paul Menard was second, followed by Michael Annett, points leader Elliott Sadler and Kyle Busch.
PIQUET CLAIMS TRUCKS
Nelson Piquet Jr. raced to his second NASCAR Trucks Series victory of the year, passing Matt Crafton on the final lap at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Piquet, the Brazilian whose father won three Formula One titles, also won at Road America in Wisconsin in June.
Pole-winner Joey Coulter was third, followed by Brendan Gaughan and Todd Bodine.
BROWN ON TOP
Antron Brown raced to the No. 1 qualifying position in Top Fuel in Madison, Ill., capping a record-setting two days at the NHRA Midwest Nationals.
Brown will go for his second consecutive playoff victory and his sixth win of the season from the top spot. He holds a one-point lead in the Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship standings over playoff rival Spencer Massey, who was second in qualifying.
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