DAYTONA JULY

Joe Gibbs Racing proved to have one of the strongest teams on the track tonight for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway.

Each of the three JGR drivers showed the ability to make a run to the front of the pack at any point it desired as they raced in two-car pods for each lap of the 160-lap race. Denny Hamlin entered the weekend with the strategy to partner with the No. 39 car of Ryan Newman from Stewart-Haas Racing after the pair showed success together in February’s Daytona 500.

Hamlin started the No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota in the 36th position and was content to hang toward the back of the field through the first half of the race along with Newman. When the two decided it was time to go it was an impressive run to the front of the field as Hamlin pushed Newman’s No. 39 all the way to the front and the two took the lead with Newman getting credit for the lap led on lap 106. Hamlin and Newman would switch positions just a couple laps later so the FedEx team would get credit for a lap led. However, the rest of the evening saw Hamlin pushing Newman and for the final 50 laps the two were consistently at the front of the field. After a long green flag run, a late caution would create a green-white-checkered finish. The first attempt would see the Hamlin-Newman pairing take the lead, but an accident would quickly bring out another caution. The pair would restart second and fourth on the next attempt at a green-white-checkered finish which made it easier for Hamlin to get to Newman’s bumper. Unfortunately Newman would get a bit loose and the two were forced into the center of the track causing them to lose their momentum and several positions to the leaders on the final lap. As the field headed into the final turn a large accident would collect Hamlin and send him spinning across the infield grass. He would manage to still go on to finish the race in 13th position.