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SPORTS Monday 17 July 2017

Hamlin wins at New Hampshire, ends JGR’s winless streak

By DAN GELSTON followed by Matt Kenseth
AP Sports Writer and Kevin Harvick.
LOUDON, N.H. (AP) — Den- JGR won seven of the
ny Hamlin held off Kyle first 12 races last season
Larson over the final laps and Carl Edwards was 10
Sunday at New Hampshire laps away from a possible
Motor Speedway to send championship when he
Joe Gibbs Racing to victo- crashed out in the finale.
ry lane for the first time this Daniel Suarez replaced
season. Edwards this season and
One of the top organiza- Hamlin, Kenseth and Kyle
tions in NASCAR, JGR had Busch have made strong
yet to have any of its four runs at the checkered flag,
drivers win until Hamlin they just couldn’t find the
took the lead with 33 laps winning formula until New
left and held off the hard- Hampshire.
charging Larson on the fi- “It’s not from a lack of try-
nal lap. ing,” Hamlin said.
Hamlin needed his 30th ca- JGR also announced this
reer Cup victory to secure week that Erik Jones would
a berth in NASCAR’s ver- replace two-time Daytona
sion of the postseason and 500 champion Kenseth in
end a winless streak that the No. 20 next season. With Driver Denny Hamlin celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series 301 auto race at New
stretched to last Septem- Hamlin sending the crowd Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H., Sunday, July 16, 2017.
ber at Richmond. into a frenzy by burning Associated Press
“Definitely needed a win the tires down, Sunday was Truex in the driver stand- race car that are legal and reeled off six top-five fin-
for the organization, for my- simply a reason for the or- ings. Truex, who led 137 find more speed that way.” ishes in the first nine races
self,” Hamlin said. ganization to celebrate. laps, leads the standings by Here are other items of that included a win at
Larson had a sensational Hamlin scampered away 38 points over Larson. note from New Hampshire: Richmond. The win did not
run from the rear of the from the lobster tradition- Larson’s pole-winning time LOGANO OUT: count toward the playoffs
field, where he was forced ally awarded to the winner was disallowed because of Joey Logano’s miserable because of rules violations.
to start because he failed in victory lane. an unapproved rear deck stretch continued on his Logano has posted just two
inspection after he won the Larson was second and fin lid. home track. Logano, who top-10 finishes over the last
pole. Larson lost his points nearly caught Hamlin — “NASCAR’s kept a closer needs a win or a string of 10 races and this was the
lead last week and his after a trying week where eye on our team, in par- strong finishes to make fifth time he finished 25th or
crew chief was suspended NASCAR caught Larson’s ticular,” Larson said. “Had NASCAR’s playoffs, was worse.
after failing a post-race in- Chip Ganassi team trying to go to the back. I don’t forced off the track on the TRACK CRACK
spection at Kentucky. to tinker a bit too much think that really affected third stage because of a The race was stopped for
Hamlin crashed the No. 11 outside the rule book on us which I think is a good suspension issue. NASCAR 5 1/2 minutes when a pot
Toyota in practice and was the No. 42 Chevrolet. thing. The little stuff we got seized a rear suspension hole opened on the track.
forced to race in a backup Larson’s team was penal- in trouble for so far hasn’t part with the No. 22 Ford The hole was discovered
car. It seemed to suit him ized 35 points this week, affected our performance. in the garage. He finished just before the second
just fine at New Hampshire. erasing what had been a We’ve got to keep working 37th. stage and crews hit the
Martin Truex Jr., was third, one-point advantage over hard on the areas on our The Connecticut driver scene to make repairs.q