Matt McLaughlin’s Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2010 Michigan Spring Race Recap
Denny Hamlin got a huge jump on the final restart, then drove off into the sunset like the rest of the field was on tricycles.
Denny Hamlin got a huge jump on the final restart, then drove off into the sunset like the rest of the field was on tricycles.
On lap 188, Denny Hamlin, who dominated the second half of the race, reasserted himself by retaking a lead he wouldn’t relinquish.
Kurt Busch’s No. 2 team got him off pit road first after the final caution flag flew with 19 laps left to run.
When Kyle Busch and teammate Denny Hamlin got to arguing over the lead and the No. 18 car hit the wall, Kurt Busch took advantage of the situation and shot from fifth to the lead in one lap.
Jimmie Johnson had a dominant car, but a rare unforced error by the four-time champ (speeding on pit road) handed the win to Kyle Busch.
Denny Hamlin’s crew got him off pit road first while two of his chief competitors, Jeff Gordon (missed pit road trying to enter) and Jeff Burton (ran over an air line exiting his stall) basically took themselves out of contention on the last round of stops.
Kyle Busch outgutted Jeff Gordon on the final restart to take the lead from the outside lane. Having dominated the first half of the race, it felt somewhat appropriate for Busch to fight back and take the win at the end.
Kevin Harvick, running second, brushed leader Jamie McMurray’s rear bumper 50 yards from the checkers, getting the No. 1 car squirrelly and passing for the lead and the win.
Denny Hamlin muscled his way past Jeff Burton on the final restart and held off a hard-charging Jimmie Johnson to claim his second win in the last three races. NASCAR officials must have had their flights booked, because they didn’t even bother to throw a debris caution on the final two laps to let Johnson win.
Jeff Gordon had the lead on the final restart but Ryan Newman had a little more “want-to,” stuffing his car down into the first corner WFO while Gordon spun his tires.
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