Hamlin holds off Keselowski for Martinsville victory

MARTINSVILLE, Va. - With Brad Keselowski beating a tattoo into his rear bumper, and with his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota sliding sideways as it approached the checkered flag, Denny Hamlin held on to his car and held off Keselowski to win Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

In winning his first race of the season, his fifth at the .526-mile short track and the 25th of his career, Hamlin took the lead for good on lap 473 of 500, passing teammate Matt Kenseth for the top spot. Two laps later, Keselowski surged past Kenseth and tracked down Hamlin, setting up a breathtaking battle in the closing laps.

Keselowski could have won his second straight Sprint Cup race by wrecking Hamlin, but the 2012 premier series champion opted not to win the race with his bumper.

"Hats off to Brad--he had an option, and he took the latter (not to wreck the No. 11)," said Hamlin, who broke a 31-race Toyota winless streak dating back to his victory at Talladega last May. "So thank him for that

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