Rewind | Commentary, key moments

Sunday, Mar. 29, 2009

Taking another look or two at the Goody's 500 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, the sixth of the Sprint Cup season's events:

REAR-VIEW MIRROR

No complaints, just a promise

Maybe there's no such thing as a "good" loss, but Denny Hamlin showed class Sunday. He wound up losing a race in which he'd led 296 of 500 laps.

But he never complained, not once, about what happened in the battle for the victory that Jimmie Johnson wound up winning. He only said that if he had been in the same situation he would have done the same thing - and promised that if he gets in that same situation that's exactly what he will do.

Best of their bunches

AJ Allmendinger finished ninth and Jamie McMurray finished 10th Sunday in performances that won't make the headlines. But McMurray beat all of his Roush Fenway teammates, handily, and Allmendinger beat the rest of the Dodges entered.

When you get right down to it, both Allmendinger and McMurray are driving for their jobs and days like this can only help.

KEY MOMENTS

Lap 156

Denny Hamlin takes the lead from Jeff Gordon, who had dominated the early going after starting from the pole, and begins to assert himself as the driver to beat. Hamlin leads the next 187 laps.

Lap 340

As leader Hamlin tries to fight his way through lapped traffic, Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Clint Bowyer close in and set up a thrilling four-way battle for the lead that lasts until the yellow flag flies on Lap 352.

Lap 427

Jeremy Mayfield’s spin in Turn 4 brings out the yellow and brings the leaders in for their final pit stops. Johnson’s crew gets him back on the track first ahead of Hamlin, seemingly giving Johnson the upper hand.

Lap 456

Hamlin makes a spectacular move to the inside on a restart, taking the lead away from Johnson. Kyle Busch, Hamlin's teammate, is the first car a lap down and gives Hamlin the room he needs to make the move and allow him to take back the lead.

Lap 485

Johnson gives Hamlin a shove going through turns 3 and 4, not only allowing Johnson to make a pass for the lead but also slowing Hamlin down enough to keep him from being able to catch back up and return the favor before the race ended.

NEXT RACE

Samsung 500

Where: Texas Motor Speedway (Fort Worth, Texas)

When: 2 p.m. Sunday

TV: Fox Sports

Radio: Performance Racing Network

Last year's winner: Carl Edwards.

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