Denny Hamlin Out Grooves at Bristol, Wins Irwin Tools Night Race

Denny Hamlin, driver of the No.11 Fed Ex Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing won tonight’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway.  This was Hamlin’s first win at the famed short track in Bristol, Tenn and his third victory thus far in 2012.

This win ties Hamlin with Johnson, Keselowski and Stewart for bonus points upon commencement of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chase that starts at Chicagoland.

Hamlin set up to pass Edward’s with 39 laps to go. Hamlin used a slide move to get past Edwards, then held on as Edwards tried to use a cross-over move to get back in front. It didn’t work and Hamlin kept the lead.

Edward’s night came to a fast end when he ran out of gas, he ended up finishing four laps down.

Jimmie Johnson finished second and clinched a spot in the Chase, followed by Gordon, Brian Vickers and Marcos Ambrose to round out the top five. Greg Biffle, and Dale Earnhardt Jr, also clinched a spot in the 2012 Chase.

Kasey Kahne holds the first Wild Card spot, and Kyle Busch who is 13th in points, currently holds the No.2 Wild Card Seed.

It was a night of flaring tempers, Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth got into each other on lap 332. Stewart, during the caution got out of his car and threw his helmet right at Matt. He hit his bulls eye with the helmet hitting Kenseth’s hood straight on.

Later in the race, Danica Patrick who was having an impressive run for her fourth career start in the Sprint Cup, was unintentionally hit by Regan Smith spinning her into the wall. After she removed herself from her race car, she got fans thinking she was going to go for a repeat helmet toss but instead she shook her finger at Smith. (Which was still awesome). You can see the video here.

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