August 22, 2020 | By Lee Spencer

Denny Hamlin finally conquers the Monster Mile

Denny Hamlin doesn’t consider Dover International Raceway one of his better tracks—he proved otherwise on Saturday.

Joe Gibbs Racing dominated the Drydene 311. Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. led two-thirds of the laps. But with nine circuits remaining, Truex couldn't defend the point any longer.

Despite losing the lead midway through the race, Hamlin rallied for his first win at the Monster Mile in his 29th start and his sixth victory of the season.

“People always ask what your least favorite track is and I say Dover just because I’m not that good,” Hamlin said. “I love the track, I just haven’t been very good here.

“We just have unbelievable cars right now. It seems like we’re coming to the race track prepared. I’m putting the work in and we’re getting results out of it.”

Hamlin’s 43rd-Cup career victory elevated him to 19th on the all-time win list—one position ahead of Bill Elliott.

“How about that baby, no more Dover downer for me,” said crew chief Chris Gabehart as Hamlin took the checkered flag. “We’re winners here.”

Truex, who entered his home track with five-consecutive third-place finishes, trailed the No. 11 Fed Ex Toyota by 1.179-seconds at the line.

Kyle Busch completed the all-Gibbs podium followed by points leader Kevin Harvick, Chase Elliott, Clint Bowyer, Jimmie Johnson, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

The only incident in the Dover doubleheader occurred on the backstretch seven laps in when Erik Jones punted Kurt Busch, who was running 11th at the time. Busch was forced to retire and finished 40th. Jones recovered with a 12th-place result.

Hamlin was the first car off of pit road with four tires on Lap 28 during the competition caution. He worked his way to the lead over the next 30 laps and passed Austin Dillon for the lead. Hamlin maintained the point over the next 12 laps the Stage 1 win.

Hamlin held serve out of the pits to start Stage 2. Pit strategy came into play as the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team threw a Hail Mary in hopes of gaining points on Johnson and the No. 48 crew with two races to decide the Playoffs. The gamble didn’t pay off for William Byron and crew chief Chad Knaus. Hamlin lapped Byron on Lap 125. When green flag pit stops began on Lap 134, Byron remained on track. He led lap 160 but was passed on the next circuit by Hamlin. Byron pitted for two tires six laps later and dropped to 26th. Before winning Stage 2, Hamlin lapped Byron again.

Johnson entered the weekend 25 points behind Byron but picked up points in both stages before finishing seventh. Byron ended up 28th and now trails Johnson by three points with the second Dover race and Daytona to decide the Playoff grid.

"Solid day for this Ally Chevy team," Johnson said. "We have some work to do but we will go to work tonight and get it right. Everyone did a great job. We have something to build on tonight and we will come back tomorrow and have something for them.

"Bittersweet day for me tomorrow--my final Dover race."

Truex emerged with the lead out of the pits for the final stage. He led 65 laps prior to pit stops. Truex cycled out to the point with 32 laps remaining, but Hamlin mimicked the No. 19 Toyota’s line as the circuits wound down. With Aric Almirola sitting in Truex’s path, Hamlin eventually reeled in his teammate.

“Really, I think if the 10 (Almirola) car just wasn’t pinning me on the bottom and running me up, it would have been fine,” Truex said. “Every time I tried to move up and get some air on my car, he would just slide up in front of me like an idiot. He’s the reason we lost the lead, but at the end we just weren’t good enough.

“I thought the 11 (Hamlin) was better than us all day long. We got the lead there in the pits and was able to use clean air to our advantage. I was never happy with the car all day long. The SiriusXM Camry was fast, but the balance was all over the place. It was firing off tight and getting loose on long runs. At the end, just nothing I could do. It was out of control, sideways.”

Hamlin credited his teammates—Truex and Busch—with elevating his game at Dover as well as Gabehart providing that extra push to sweep all three stages and survive with maximum points.

"I never thought it was going to happen here at Dover," Hamlin said. "My crew chief said last night, 'You ready?' I said, 'I'm always ready. I'm always prepared. He said, 'Alright, we're going to go win tomorrow.'

"He's confident. Anytime I get a message like that I'm pretty confident that whatever he sees in the simulation world, he likes. It typically equals a good day for us. Today was a good one."