Loudon, NH (Sports Network) - Denny Hamlin rebounded in the Chase for the
Sprint Cup championship by winning Sunday's Sylvania 300 with a dominating
performance at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
One week after running out of fuel on the last lap and ending up with a 16th-
place finish in the first Chase race at Chicagoland Speedway, Hamlin led 193
of 300 laps at New Hampshire. He finished 2.7 seconds ahead of his closest
competitor, Jimmie Johnson, to claim his Sprint Cup Series-leading fifth win
of the season. He also gave team owner Joe Gibbs his 100th career victory in
NASCAR's premier series.
Hamlin started 32nd but made his way to the front by lap 94 and then dominated
from there.
Johnson's second-place finish moved him atop the point standings. He holds a
one-point advantage over Brad Keselowski, who finished sixth. Keselowski had
led in points following his win at Chicagoland.
Hamlin moved to within seven points of the lead.
Jeff Gordon finished third, followed by Clint Bowyer and Kasey Kahne. Tony
Stewart, who won this race one year ago, placed seventh. The top-seven
finishers are all in this year's Chase field.
The other Chase drivers and their finishing positions included: Kevin Harvick
(11th), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (13th), Matt Kenseth (14th), Martin Truex Jr.
(17th) and Greg Biffle (18th).
The Sports Network