Potential Victory Hindered on Pit Road

Denny Hamlin at Richmond. Image: Joe Gibbs Racing Twitter

Denny Hamlin was just about the only car that could go up and catch the two dominant Hendrick cars this past Sunday at Richmond. The Richmond, VA native powered to the front Winning a stage and led 71 laps and was by far the strongest Toyota all afternoon. That couldn't stand in the way of a good time for Denny Hamlin though. Denny reverted back to his old ways of hindering himself with a Pit Road speeding penalty on lap 33 and thus hindering himself to the tail end. 

Despite the issue on pit road, Hamlin proceeded to drive his way to the front with some help from lapped traffic and lead the 3rd most laps of the race and became a true contender for the race win. Pit road however bit Denny in the ass again, but this time not of his doing. Lap 335 Hamlin pit from the Top-5 but a hang up on the right front wheel cost him nearly 15 positions from which he just never recovered. 

Hamlin raced his way back into the Top-15 over the next 20 laps just to speed on pit road yet again on the final pit sequence of the race. This penalty would yet again bring Denny back to the tail end where he eventually ended up finishing P.20, only improving a few positions off the restart. 

By: Tom Luttermoser