Hamlin overcomes qualifying run to earn fifth win

Photo by Pool/Getty Images for NASCAR

Denny Hamlin was the favorite heading into The Chase for the Sprint Cup, but the final stretch of the season has gotten off to a rocky start. A strong performance at Chicagoland ended in heartbreak as the No. 11 ran out of fuel on the final lap, relegating the team to a 16th place finish. On Friday his run of bad luck continued when the team failed to adjust the tire pressures from race to qualifying levels. Had this error not occurred Hamlin most likely would have had a top starting position based on how fast he was in all three practice sessions. Instead Hamlin was in 32nd for the start of the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Hamlin's goal was to make the top-10 by the 100 lap mark. He didn't miss a beat, taking the lead on Lap 94. Despite fighting steering problems, Hamlin was the class of the field. Crossing the finish line 2.5 seconds ahead of Jimmie Johnson, he secured his fifth win of the 2012 season and grabbed the 100th Sprint Cup Series win for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Pole sitter Jeff Gordon ran strong staying within the top five throughout the day. Following the race Gordon commented in regards to the roller coaster of a season the No. 24 team has endured, "Today was crucial to have that kind of a finish and a result...We're just gonna fight from here on out and try to get some consistent finishes. This team has gotten used to this kind of thing all year long."

Gordon's Hendrick teammates Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne and Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished second, fifth and 14th respectively.

Although it was a race dominated by Denny Hamlin all 12 Chase contenders had solid days. For the first time in the history of the "playoff" format all drivers finished inside the top 20. Greg Biffle, who finished 18th was the lowest of the chasers.

Kyle Busch looked to have a strong car in the first half of the race. Unfortunately for Busch the engine woes he's experienced earlier this season came back into play when the team reported the No. 18 was down to seven cylinders. Busch would hang on to finish 28th and his fourth major failure of the 2012 season.

The biggest mover of the day, other than winner Denny Hamlin, was part-time Michael Waltrip Racing driver Brian Vickers. After posting fast times earlier in the weekend the team decided to change out the engine on the No. 55 forcing Vickers to start from the read of the field. Using pit strategy and taking only two tires when the leaders took four, Vickers led the race at one point before falling back to a ninth place finish.

Jimmie Johnson is now the points leader, one point ahead of Brad Keselowski as the series moves to Dover for the third race in the 2012 Chase for the Sprint Cup.
The final running order:

1. Denny Hamlin
2. Jimmie Johnson
3. Jeff Gordon
4. Clint Bowyer
5. Kasey Kahne
6. Brad Keslowski
7. Tony Stewart
8. Joey Logano
9. Brian Vickers
10. Ryan Newman
11. Kevin Harvick
12. Paul Menard
13. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
14. Matt Kenseth
15. Jeff Burton
16. Regan Smith
17. Martin Truex Jr.
18. Greg Biffle
19. Carl Edwards
20. Bobby Labonte
21. Sam Hornish Jr.
22. Juan Montoya 
23. Aric Almirola
24. Marcos Ambrose
25. Kurt Busch
26. Jamie McMurray
27. Landon Cassill
28. Kyle Busch
29. David Ragan
30. David Reutimann
31. Travis Kvapil
32. David Gilliland
33. Mike Olsen
34. Stephen Leicht
35. David Stremme
36. Casey Mears
37. Michael McDowell
38. Scott Speed
39. Joe Nemechek
40. Tony Raines
41. JJ Yeley
42. Reed Sorenson
43. Kelly Bires