Mike Harris, The Associated Press via NASCAR.com : Denny Hamlin was so nervous during the last few laps of Sunday’s Nextel Cup race at New Hampshire International Speedway that his right foot was shaking on the gas pedal. Hamlin, who believes he needs race wins to be a serious contender for his first Cup championship, was out front, thanks to a late-race gamble on a two-tire stop. And four-time series champion Jeff Gordon was looming close in his mirrors. “You see Jeff coming and you’re trying your best to not be the guy who chokes at the end,” Hamlin said. Last year’s top rookie had his hands full at the end, trying to keep his No. 11 Chevrolet out of the wall and ahead of Gordon’s No. 24. “I was all over the track those last two laps,” he said. “I was basically just trying not to give up the bottom.”
By Bob Ryan, Boston Globe: Gotta love a guy who says it out loud. “My right foot was shaking like crazy the last three laps,” said Denny Hamlin. “You get nervous. I see Jeff [Gordon] coming and I’m trying not to be the guy who chokes under pressure. I just couldn’t make a mistake.” A bit earlier, Hamlin had offered this take on the race, not afraid to use the w-word: “Oh, man, I will tell you. I was driving like a wuss those last few laps trying not to make a mistake. I knew we were capable,” Hamlin said. “You don’t finish in the top 3 or 4 and not get a win eventually. We’ve been competitive every week.”
Travis Barrett, Central Maine Newspapers: So then there was Saturday. I waited for him after practice and he walked out of his hauler, saw me, stopped, grabbed a water and ducked back inside. Then after Happy Hour for the Cuppers, a full 2 1/2 hours before Busch race later that day—and after he waited in the garage stall behind his car for several minutes, he finally walked over in my direction. “Ward,” I asked him. “Have you got a couple of minutes to talk about your wildlife foundation?” “No, I don’t,” he said. “I’ve got to do this hospitality thing, and then I’ve got the Busch race. Come back tomorrow.” “Is there somewhere I can walk with you to? I only need about 30 seconds, I just want to quickly ask you about the education work you’re doing for kids.” “I can’t do it in 30 seconds. I’d love to do it, but I’m booked solid today.” With that, he was gone. In the time it took him to haggle with me about whether or not he had the time to talk anyway, we could have been done with. Ward Burton finished 43rd, dead last in the Lenox 300, after transmission failure just 3 laps in. Karma?
By Monte Dutton, Gaston Gazette: NASCAR officials designed the Car of Tomorrow with an eye on improving the quality of the racing. Specifically, they hoped the design would decrease the effect of “aero push,” the phenomenon that gives the car in front an advantage based on the clean air hitting the front of his car. “Who said that?” asked Gordon. “I knew how it would be the first time I tested the car. I could’ve told you it would make it worse.”
David Poole, Charlotte.com: Denny Hamlin said he felt it was just a matter of time before his team would win, but that doesn’t mean not winning hasn’t been bothering him. “I may act like I am 12 at times, but when it comes to racing I am as competitive as Tony (Stewart), and he’s the benchmark,” Hamlin said. “I can be the first to throw something after finishing second. “If I don’t win I think I need to figure out why I got beat. That kept us going, trying hard and hard and finally it broke through.” Hamlin kept wanting two tires to help gain track position, but crew chief Mike Ford said he wanted to wait for the right moment. “I had a number in mind all day,” Ford said. “I knew that around 120 or 130 laps to go that would be our last four-tire stop. We knew that if we took four tires, that if the guys who were better than us took four tires, they would win.”
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