Unflappable Hamlin takes everything in stride

By Jim Utter | The Charlotte Observer • Published March 30, 2009

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MARTINSVILLE, Va. – This is the perfect example of the new "big picture" Denny Hamlin.

Instead of seething over becoming a victim of Jimmie Johnson's late-race bump-and-run and denied his first Sprint Cup Series victory of the season in Sunday's Goody's 500 at Martinsville Speedway, Hamlin realized there were other concerns.

"We still got a solid finish. Sure, it's disappointing," Hamlin said. "We're not going to win the championship this weekend. We're going to win the championship later this season.

"We know we have a great package. This is a Chase race (in the fall), so I'm happy about that. But we have to make sure we're in position first—in the top 12."

There is good and bad to be found in Hamlin's performance the past two weeks.

He's run good enough to win, but his consecutive second-place finishes have entrenched him in the top 12. He moved up three spots Sunday and sits fifth in points, 148 behind leader Jeff Gordon.

"To come to two straight short tracks and be in contention to win both races, it's uplifting," Hamlin said. "We didn't win, but you can't help that things don't always fall your way.

"I feel confident. I would love to have race wins."

Hamlin's day could have been much worse.

His Joe Gibbs Racing teammates, Kyle Busch and Joey Logano, experienced tire problems brought on by excessive brake heat. Busch finished 24th and Logano 32nd.

And in previous seasons, Hamlin might have become irate at a late-race move such as Johnson's and not remained as focused.

"Today we could have easily ended up 25th. Denny didn't let that happen," said his crew chief, Mike Ford. "In hindsight, that's experience and that's experience that Denny's gaining and wisdom along with that."

Ford said Hamlin's No. 11 Toyota didn't have any of the brake-heating issues their teammates fought through .

"Denny is very easy on brakes. This is not even close to our hardest braking track," he said. "We were aware of the problem, but it didn't come into play for us."