Page 19 - ARUBA TODAY

A19
SPORTS Tuesday 2 april 2019

Hamlin overcomes 2 pit penalties at Texas for 2nd win of ‘19

Continued from Page 17 races at the track in 2010. he said. While he avoided
Gibbs drivers have won contact then, he slipped
“I was just beating my head four of the seven races this back to fourth. When trying
against the steering wheel season, and Team Penske to get back in front a few
thinking, ‘Man, we’re going won the other three. laps later, he brushed the
to finish bad with a really All four Stewart-Haas Rac- outside wall and fell a lap
fast race car,’” Hamlin said. ing cars finished in the top behind after having to go
“We just kept digging and eight, led by Bowyer and to pit road.
Chris kept doing a good Daniel Suarez finishing third. For the second time in a
job encouraging us. We Aric Almirola and Kevin month, he missed out on a
had a long way to go. We Harvick were seventh and tripleheader sweep follow-
kept passing cars and pass- eighth. ing Xfinity and Truck Series
ing cars.” Erik Jones, another Gibbs races in the same week-
Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota fin- driver, finished fourth and end. He completed such
ished more than 2.7 sec- polesitter Jimmie Johnson sweeps twice at Bristol, in
onds ahead of Clint Bow- was fifth, just ahead of 2010 and 2017. Drive Denny Hamlin celebrates in victory lane after winning a
yer . The 334-lap race at his Hendrick Motorsports It was the third time at NASCAR Cup auto race at Texas Motor Speedway, Sunday,
the 1 ½-mile track, with teammate William Byron. Texas that Kyle Busch won March 31, 2019, in Fort Worth, Texas.
only three cautions outside Kurt Busch was ninth and the Xfinity and Trucks races Associated Press
the two stage stoppages, JGR driver Kyle Busch fin- before coming up short in had combined since the it, so I think we have found
featured 27 lead changes ished 10th despite leading the weekend-ending Cup start of 2018. kind of center for our cars
among 13 drivers. a race-high 66 laps in his race. That also happened Johnson led 40 laps all of and what has to happen,”
It was the 33rd career vic- attempt for a tripleheader to him at his home track in last season, and only four Johnson said.
tory for Hamlin. He won the weekend sweep. Las Vegas four weeks ear- in the first six races this year. “We’ve had a lot of pres-
season-opening Daytona Kyle Busch led six times, lier. The No. 48 Hendrick Motors- sure on us, and everyone
500 after he went winless and was still in front with 59 POSITIVE SIGNS ports Chevrolet last went to has stepped up and is get-
last year and ending a laps to go when his No. 18 While Johnson’s career- Victory Lane in June 2017 ting it done.”
streak of 12 consecutive Toyota drifted high going worst winless drought at Dover. Along with strong finishes by
seasons getting into Victory into Turn 2. reached 66 races, he start- “We are definitely mov- Johnson and Byron, Chase
Lane. “It just busted loose on me, ed from the pole for the first ing in the right direction. Elliott was 13th. Alex Bow-
His third win at Texas was and I had to catch it and time since 2016 and his 61 Car was good in clean air man was 18th in a backup
his first since sweeping both make sure we didn’t crash,” laps led were more than he and had a lot of speed in car.q