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closeHamlin takes Gibbs team's No. 20 to another win | Results
JIM UTTER
The Charlotte Observer
Friday, Jul. 04, 2008
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - It's become a familiar scene this season.
Another Nationwide Series race, another victory for Joe Gibbs Racing's No. 20 Toyota team. This time it was Denny Hamlin taking the win in Friday night's Winn-Dixie 250 at Daytona International Speedway, holding off JGR teammate Kyle Busch in a green-white-checkered overtime.
The wins are coming so fast and so frequent and with so many drivers - four drivers have won nine races in the No. 20 this season - other competitors can't keep track.
In interviews following the race, Dale Earnhardt Jr. continually referred to Tony Stewart's victory. Stewart, for the record, won last week in the No. 20 at New Hampshire.
"I would have liked a one-two finish one way or the other and I figured since I was out front, it was my turn," said Hamlin, who earned his second victory of the season and seventh of his career. "It's just amazing all the hard work that has gone into what this team has accomplished this year."
The race is Hamlin's final turn in the No. 20 this season. JGR development driver Joey Logano will drive most of the rest of the season in the No. 20, with Stewart doing two more races.
The win also completed a three-race sweep of restrictor-plate races for JGR's No. 20. Stewart won in the season opener at Daytona and at Talladega in the car.
"Dave (Rogers, crew chief) knew the body on this car we had in February wasn't going to be good enough, so they redid it," Hamlin said. "That's why this No. 20 car continues to perform the way it does, everyone keeps working harder after each and every win that they get."
Earnhardt Jr. finished third, series points leader Clint Bowyer was fourth and Brad Keselowski completed the top five.
Colin Braun's wreck on the next-to-last lap set up a two-lap overtime, which gave Busch one final chance to catch his teammate. But on the restart, Hamlin's car was so good he just drove away from the rest.
"The No. 20 car was definitely the fastest car, but I think we had the best-handling car all night," Busch said. "That No. 20 team has been strong all year.
"It was fun racing there with (Earnhardt Jr.) and Denny. I felt like I should stay in line and we just had to play the teammate game and help Denny to the win."