Hamlin can take his best shot at next two tracks

Hamlin can take his best shot at next two tracks

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

(September 3, 2011)

HAMPTON, Ga. -- For a driver fighting to keep a position in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Denny Hamlin couldn’t ask for two better tracks to decide the composition of the Chase field.

 At Atlanta Motor Speedway, site of Sunday night’s AdvoCare 500, and Richmond International Raceway, host venue for next Saturday’s regular-season finale, tire wear is an issue, and that plays to Hamlin’s strong suit.

 “I think that any of these tracks like this where you have extreme tire wear we seem to excel at,” said Hamlin, 13th in points and, with one victory this season, clinging to the second of two wild-card berths in the Chase. “These next two weeks are going to be those types of racetracks where the drivers that can maintain and keep their equipment throughout the day and save tires and things like that are going to excel.

 “Ultimately, you have to have a good handling racecar, and that helps the driver tremendously as far as that’s concerned. It seems like these two (tracks) in particular fit my style perfectly.”

 Though Hamlin’s position in the Chase is tenuous, he doesn’t want to pay much attention to the positions of his rivals during the races.

 “I know what we have to do, and I know what guys we’re racing,” Hamlin said. “No, I don’t need to know. … We’re getting down to it now to where I can pretty much count the points in my head (for) every car I see in front or behind me.”