Apter Hours "In the Pits": Hamlin Holds Off ACL Surgery, Surges to Victory Lane

Let me set the stage for you. The race was rained out from Sunday until Monday. Denny Hamilin had to postpone his surgery to repair a torn ACL so he could race. Hamlin was up top and led most of the race. With under ten laps, a caution flag waved and race leader Hamilin took a huge risk and decided to pit. Hamlin restarted ninth and then another caution flag waved due to his teammate, Kyle Busch, involved in a wreck. With three laps to go, Hamlin felt as if he threw this race away by pitting with under ten laps....instead he treated NASCAR fans to one of the most exciting finishes at Martinsville. Please click the link below to view the final laps and see how Hamlin pulled it off...

Hamlin's Memorable Finish

I know NASCAR fans appreciate that ending. Although my driver, Kasey Kahne, was back in 17th, I found this to be one of the most exciting finishes. It was a huge risk to pit with such little time left, but four fresh tires and some risky driving gave Hamlin a much deserved victory. Following the race, he was in a bit of pain due to his ACL injury and will have that surgery on Wednesday.

 

There are a couple of things about this race that I noticed....specifically in the last few laps. NASCAR had made a change to let the drivers make the decisions on the tracks when it came to aggressive driving and it seemed as if Denny was the only driver to take advantage of that. Jeff Gordon inherited the lead after Hamilin pit and it was his race to lose...and he did exactly that. It seemed as if he just let Hamlin, Kenseth and Logano bully right through without bumping back much at all. Gordon, the driver of the #24 car, finished in third after Hamlin passed him and Joey Logano followed.

 

One of the disappointments of yesrterday's race was Jeff Burton. He had been running in the top five for the majority of the day but as the final 20 laps approached, Burton felt a tire going down and he indeed blew the tire with under 15 laps remaining.

 

Since not many people are big NASCAR fans, I will keep this short and sweet. For someone like me who appreciates endings like this...there is really nothing more exciting in the sport. Yes...I said it. Nascar is a sport and I will tell you why I believe it is in the next "In the Pits".