Hamlin and Grubb find early success at Phoenix

Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR

Denny Hamlin and new crew chief Darian Grubb have started their 2012 season off on the right note, after an exciting win at Phoenix International Raceway. Fuel mileage came into play, costing several drivers in the closing laps, including the second-place car of Kevin Harvick.

"We just kept working on it," Hamlin said after the race. "Every time we worked on it, it got better."

After leading 61 laps today and being the dominant car in the Daytona 500, Hamlin sits atop the leader board early in the season. With the changes in the offseason - Grubb, a new engine partnership with TRD and a renewed vigor, Hamlin is looking to this season to get back into championship form.

Hamlin's win at Phoenix was his 18th career Sprint Cup win and breaks a 22-race winless streak. Hamlin is the seventh consecutive different winner at PIR.

The Skirts and Scuffs team will be providing you will team recaps starting tomorrow afternoon. Look forward to recaps including the Gibbs Garage, Deuces Wild (a Penske recap), In the Hunt (RCR) and the MWR Weekly Wrap-Up to name a new.



Race results:

1. Denny Hamlin
2. Kevin Harvick
3. Greg Biffle
4. Jimmie Johnson
5. Brad Keselowski
6. Kyle Busch
7. Martin Truex Jr.
8. Jeff Gordon
9. Mark Martin
10. Joey Logano
11. Juan Pablo Montoya
12. Aric Almirola
13. Matt Kenseth
14. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
15. Kurt Busch
16. Bobby Labonte
17. Carl Edwards
18. AJ Allmendinger
19. Travis Kvapil
20. Regan Smith
21. Ryan Newman
22. Tony Stewart
23. Dave Blaney
24. Mike Bliss
25. David Ragan
26. J.J. Yeley
27. Brendan Gaughan
28. David Gilliland
29. David Stremme
30. Clint Bowyer
31. Paul Menard
32. Marcos Ambrose
33. Jeff Burton
34. Kasey Kahne
35. Landon Cassill
36. David Reutimann
37. Jamie McMurray
38. Josh Wise
39. Casey Mears
40. Joe Nemechek
41. Robby Gordon
42. Scott Riggs
43. Michael McDowell