Four inches was the difference between victory and defeat for Denny Hamlin in Sunday’s Daytona 500.
On the final lap, Hamlin made a strong last lap charge on leader Matt Kenseth with a push from behind from Kevin Harvick. When Kenseth moved high to block, Hamlin cut left and drove under Kenseth, sending Kenseth high and almost out of control.
From there, it was a drag race between Hamlin and Martin Truex, Jr. At the finish line, it was a difference of .010 of a second – or about four inches, that gave Hamlin the win. It was Hamlin’s first Daytona 500 win and the first for Toyota.
Afterwards, Hamlin talked about what the win meant to him, and where his career is at this point. We also heard from winning car owner Joe Gibbs, along with second place finisher Truex, Jr. and third place finisher Kyle Busch.
Saturday was a good day for Dawsonville, Georgia’s Chase Elliott. Elliott had the lead over JR Motorsports teammate Elliott Sadler going into the last lap of the NASCAR Xfinity Series race. Coming to the checkered flag, Logano moved to the high line to try to pass, but Elliott moved high to defend the spot. The two cars made contact several times, but Elliott was able to beat Logano to the checkered flag for the win.
Elliott talked to the media about the win afterwards, as did car owner Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Logano.
From here, the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series all move to the Peach State, as Atlanta Motor Speedway will host the second race of the season for each division this weekend.
WDUN will have live PRN Radio coverage of the race weekend from AMS, beginning with Saturday’s Xfinity Series Heads Up 250 at 1 pm on 102.9 FM. Then on Sunday, the Sprint Cup Series takes center stage, with live PRN Radio coverage of the QuikTrip Folds of Honor 500 beginning at 12 pm on 102.9 FM and 1 pm on AM 550.
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