Nascar – Denny Hamlin wins at Richmond

After the Daytona 500 and the Watkins Glen road event, Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing – Toyota) scored his third victory of the year in Nascar Sprint Cup Series 2016. The Floridian emerged victorious at the end of a very lively race, marked by 16 interruptions, and concluded in overtime by the 2010 vice-champion.

Behind Hamlin, Kyle Larson (Chip Ganassi Racing – Chevrolet) took advantage of the new tires fitted under a yellow flag at the end of the race to move up to second position and ahead of Martin Truex Jr (Furniture Row – Toyota), Brad Keselowski (Team Penske – Ford), Kevin Harvick (Stewart-Haas Racing – Chevrolet) for the top 5.

This last round of the regular season also made it possible to confirm the sixteen participants in the Chase 2016. The thirteen drivers who have won at least one race since the opening of the debates at Daytona in February will be there, since Chris Buescher (Front Row Motorsports – Ford) has secured his place in the top 30.

The rookie will be joined by Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports – Chevrolet), Jamie McMurray (Chip Ganassi Racing – Chevrolet) and Austin Dillon (Richard Childress Racing – Chevrolet), qualified on points. However, we will note the absence of Kasey Kahne (Hendrick Motorsports) or even the drivers of Roush Fenway Racing.

Drivers qualified for the 2016 Chase

1. Kyle Busch (Joe Gibbs Racing – Toyota) – four wins, 2012 points
2. Brad Keselowski (Team Penske – Ford) – four wins, 2012 points
3. Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing – Toyota) – three wins, 2009 points
4. Kevin Harvick (Stewart-Haas Racing – Chevrolet) – two wins, 2006 points
5. Carl Edwards (Joe Gibbs Racing – Toyota) – two wins, 2006 points
6. Martin Truex Jr. (Furniture Row Racing – Toyota) – two wins, 2006 points
7. Matt Kenseth (Joe Gibbs Racing – Toyota) – two wins, 2006 points
8. Jimmie Johnson (Hendrick Motorsports – Chevrolet) – two wins, 2006 points
9. Joey Logano (Team Penske – Ford) – one win, 2003 points
10. Kyle Larson (Chip Ganassi Racing – Chevrolet) – one win, 2003 points
11. Tony Stewart (Stewart-Haas Racing – Chevrolet) – one victory, 2003 points
12. Kurt Busch (Stewart-Haas Racing – Chevrolet) – one win, 2003 points
13. Chris Buescher (Front Row Motorsports – Ford) – one win, 2003 points
14. Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports – Chevrolet) – points qualifier, 2000 points
15. Austin Dillon (Richard Childress Racing – Chevrolet) – points qualified, 2000 points
16. Jamie McMurray (Chip Ganassi Racing – Chevrolet) – points qualifier, 2000 points

Race results

Find the report of the Richmond event in Virginia, in issue 2080 of AUTOhebdo, available tomorrow evening in digital version and this Wednesday on newsstands