Matt McLaughlin’s Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2009 Martinsville Fall Race Recap
Denny Hamlin held off charges by Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Juan Pablo Montoya during a flurry of late-race restarts to claim another win at Martinsville.
Denny Hamlin held off charges by Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Juan Pablo Montoya during a flurry of late-race restarts to claim another win at Martinsville.
Not only has the Chase overshadowed Hamlin’s successful weekend, it’s condensed the final 10 races into a select few, predetermined storylines.
In the end it was Virginia-native Denny Hamlin who was able to hold off Johnson on a green/white/checkered finish to score his third win of 2009.
This week it’s a trip to the famed Martinsville Speedway, where the only thing more famous than the hot dogs is the close-quarters racing.
NASCAR came home for the only night race of the playoffs Saturday, overseeing a coronation of the Lowe’s Motor Speedway “King” for the first time in four years.
Talladega was supposed to be the difference maker, but “The Beast of the Southeast” in Charlotte drove apart some of the leaders at the top of the standings.
Jimmie Johnson prevailed in a spirited side-by-side battle with teammate Jeff Gordon after the final restart at Charlotte.
After scoring another victory at his home track, Jimmie Johnson put a major stranglehold on the top spot following Chase race number four at Fontana.
For all intents and purposes Carl Edwards’s quest for his first Sprint Cup crown is over. Surprise, surprise.
This week, here’s a peek at what they all were thinking following the Pepsi 500 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif.