Hamlin Wins Pennsylvania 500 Pocono NASCAR 8/3/2009 Video

By DAN GELSTON (AP)

LONG POND, Pa. — Denny Hamlin ended a 50-race winless skid Monday, holding off Juan Pablo Montoya over the final riveting laps at Pocono Raceway before choking up with grief in Victory Lane.

Hamlin won for the third time in eight career starts at the triangle track that has become his personal playground. He's had three other top 10s there.

He was in tears following the Pennsylvania 500, the victory coming days after his grandmother's death. There was a catch to his voice as he spoke, and he wiped his face with a towel before walking away for a subdued celebration. His grandmother, Thelma Clark, died Friday at 91.

"We definitely had some angels with us today," Hamlin said.

The race had been delayed a day because of rain. Usually not known as a track that produces exciting races, this one was wild and unpredictable almost from the start.

Clint Bowyer was third. Sam Hornish Jr. was fourth for his best finish in a Cup car, and Kasey Kahne was fifth.

"Things haven't been going our way all year long so it feels good to have something swing our way," Bowyer said.

This was Hamlin's first victory since Martinsville Speedway in March 2008, and he strengthened his bid for a spot in the Chase for the championship.

"Denny was the car to beat all day," Kahne said.

Three-time defending Cup champion Jimmie Johnson battled an unruly car all day, falling three laps down and needing a carburetor change with 60 laps left before rebounding with a solid 13th-place finish. Johnson was scheduled to visit with President Barack Obama on Monday in honor of his 2008 Sprint Cup title.

Tony Stewart, who won Pocono in June, finished 10th and increased his points lead to 197 over Johnson.

Montoya rebounded nicely after the crushing disappointment of losing a victory last week at Indianapolis because of a pit road speeding penalty. Montoya insisted when he got to Pocono that he had moved on and kept his eye solely on the points standings. He went from 10th to eighth in the standings and in good shape to make the Chase for the first time.

"My goal this year is making the Chase," Montoya said. "That's the bigger picture. The 18 (Kyle Busch) has won three races this year and he's like 150 points out."

Bowyer, who wasn't won in 47 races, moved up to 15th in the Chase standings. There are five races left before the 12-driver field is set for the 10-race sprint for the title.

Bowyer lost the lead with eight laps left.

"There wasn't a straight finger on my car," Bowyer said. "Once they caught me, they caught me."

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greenreidlima: what a race!!!!!!! montoya getting better an better every race

calicolombiano27: its about time montoya started to compete with the best drivers!! it didnt take him this long in indy cart and formula 1...maybe its the change in driving styles...but whatever, good to see a driver from colombia at this level of competition

Woodee: Hamlin wrecked Reutimann to win... well done bonehead

KurtBuschRules2: That was too funny! lol

gokb18: looks like talladega :P

pujolsmem: ahahahaha welch got ownd

smoke6696: It wouldnt have mattered if he had done that or not,if you had a slow car in the way and you wanted to win,you would do the same,You dont realize how much Denny Wanted to win that race 4 his grandma,and by the way,im not a hamlin fan,but i hate it when people see something and think they know the whole story,so if you think you know the whole fucking story of what happened there i dont want to hear about it,AND IF YOU HAD DIRECTV YOU WOULDVE SEEN REUTY GET LOOSE THE TURN BEFORE THAT,he was loose

JamieBugajski: Ok mr all caps MAYBE HE WAS LOOSE but it doesnt take away from the fact that hamlin had to ruin to other guys' days to win the race. so if your grandma dies you can do whatever you want? I mean, I feel for him and im glad he won... but he did it in a very unnoble fashion... and the cheers he got for doing it, I was at the race, made me fucking sick.

smoke6696: like i said he still would have won the race even if ruitemann and ambrose wrecked dumbass,H egot the cheers cuz he has fans who heard about his grandmas death....

JamieBugajski: dont call me dumbass, internet tough guy, Who said he wouldve been able to get by them anyway without wrecking them... reutimann was a contender all day. and the cheering for hamlin AS HE WRECKED THEM just showed the hypocricy and lack of education for common nascar fans... sorta like you. and how would the live crowd know his Grandma died if they were at the track all day and not watching ESPN or checking Jayski every five minutes?

TimCaine1994: lol Reutimann was going to be a lap down anyway, It is what he gets for getting in the way... btw Reutimann didn't didn't have that good of a car anyway

Woodee: so? if Hamlin was "that good" he should use that round thing in front of his face and go around him like a race car driver and not run through him like a wrecker.

smoke6696: i dont think im hot shit!!! and his grandma didnt die that day,every one heard about it,but once again,you show lack of concentration,if you listen when he crosses the line they say. "denny hamlin,days after losing his grandmother" does it sound like he lost her that day??? And if you where on jayski or watching espn,you dont know because you werent watching the race,that shows that you dont have the Patience to actually sit down and watch the race..that shows how you dont have a long enough

smoke6696: attention span to actually listen to what the reporters are saying,therefore if i have lack of education,then why am i only thirteen years old and STILL getting all my facts right

JamieBugajski: What? what ev. if you're 13, youd be 11 or 12 when you signed up, but thats illegal, because you have to be 13 to sign up on a site. so delete your account because its illigitimate

smoke6696: 1st of all,you know im right, so you changed the subject,and there is millions of people on youtube and we have at least three percent of them are children under the age of 14 so whatever

JamieBugajski: i did not change the subject, you fucking tool sack. i really cant understand what you are saying because you are a moron who doesn't know grammar. Hamlin sucks and you shouldnt be allowed on youtube. please delete your account as you are a waste of space. How would ANYONE know his grandma die unless they checked jayski seriously it wasnt on ESPN cause i watch it all day. btw i just realized you made two comments, wow you just have to make it like you say a lot dont you? You're ignorant.

smoke6696: i have spelled and made a perfect sentence every reply...and i dont care what you think and if youd get off your lazy ass and quit arguing with a kid and do something with your life other than arguing with me

JamieBugajski: muwahahahaha... you started the arguement son... shouldnt you be hanging out with your little friends? or are you the kind of guy who has only 50 friends on myspace and does nothing but dick around on the internet. know your role.

smoke6696: i have plenty of friends ill have you know,and besides im a kid and pretty much every kid is on the internet around this age...but considering how old you are (mid 30s) you should be out getting pussy,if your balls have dropped yet :)