Denny Hamlin Wins Nationwide Series Race in Richmond

     The Nationwide Series headed to Richmond, Virginia, this weekend for another classic short track race.

     The field included 11 drivers from the Sprint Cup Series who planned on racing in both series this weekend. Kevin Harvick was one of those drivers who was pulling double duty this weekend. Harvick was making his 200th career start in the Nationwide Series at Richmond.

     Kasey Kahne earned the pole position for the race with Carl Edwards starting outside of him. Khane would lead the first lap as well as the first 18 laps until Edwards passed him for the lead.

     Edwards would pace the field until the first caution flag of the race came out for a spin by Brett Rowe on lap 66. All the leaders would take advantage of the caution by coming down pit road for the first time in the race. Edwards would continue to be the leader by beating everyone else out of the pits.

     Edwards would hold the top spot for a while until the third caution came out for a spin by David Reutimann on lap 142. The leaders all came to pit road with Kevin Harvick winning the race off pit road from Edwards.

     Harvick was still the leader when Khane brought out the fifth caution flag of the race after hitting the wall in turn two with 83 laps remaining. Harvick would lead the race until a caution came out for a spin by Derrick Cope came out with just 22 laps to go. This caution would prove to be the turning point in the race. The top three drivers: Harvick, Edwards, and Mike Bliss, would all stay out while the other cars on the lead lap came to pit road for fresh tires.

     This move would turn out to be the winning move because Denny Hamlin came down pit road under that caution and restarted in the fourth position. It wouldn't take long before Hamlin took his first lead of the race with just ten laps remaining.

     It would be smooth sailing for Hamlin who took the checkered flag for the first time in his career at Richmond. Hamlin said before the race that he would rather win at his home track in Richmond over Daytona and Indianapolis.

     The top ten were Hamlin, Harvick, Kyle Busch, David Ragan, Steve Wallace, David Stremme, Edwards, Bliss, Clint Bowyer, and Scott Wimmer. Other notable finishes include Matt Kenseth in 12th, Mike Wallace in 13th, and Kahne in 14th position. The top five in the point standings are Bowyer, Edwards, Busch, Ragan, and Bliss.

     Richmond is now in the history books and we can all look forward to a great weekend of racing action at "The Lady In Black" Darlington.