Hamlin Struggles at California

Fighting the car to find balance during the practice sessions, Hamlin was able to run a lap during qualifying that would secure the 10 th starting position.

“The car was extremely balanced,” commented Hamlin following his lap. “Most of the field was complaining of the track being slick, so I took it kind of easy. With a couple of adjustments this car should be really, really good.”

As the sun began to set, the green flag flew for 150 laps of racing. For the first couple laps, Hamlin gained a few spots, but soon the handling went away and Hamlin began to slide down the leaderboard. Hamlin reported in that the car was just “plowing” through the corner and although he was working with his line, he was going to need some major help. In an effort to get the car fast early, Crew Chief Cully Barraclough abandoned the 20 th position on the track to pit for four tires, fuel and a major track bar adjustment.

With the adjustments the car was much better. Hamlin quickly climbed into the top 20 and then into the top 15. In an effort to protect track position, Hamlin followed the leaders back onto pit road during the caution period on lap 38. With a couple more changes, the #20 car’s lap times continue to improve and Hamlin climbed back into the top ten. The next caution flag flew 15 laps later and the leaders headed for pit road. In an effort to save tires, due to the early stop in the race, Barraclough chose to leave Hamlin on the track vaulting him into the top-five.

Hamlin would remain comfortably in the top 10 until lap 67 when the cars with new tires were finally able to catch him. Settled in the 18 th position, Hamlin continued to wrestle his machine around the track. The long green flag run continued and Hamlin was forced to make a green flag pit stop for fuel and tires. As cars continued to duck onto pit road, Hamlin was in the 20 th position. When the caution flew on lap 110 for a single car accident in turn four, Hamlin was captured a lap down.

Hamlin used the next 40 laps to try to work his way back on the lead lap, but it was not to be. Hamlin would finish in the 20 th position, one lap down to the race winner. With his finish, Hamlin was able to remain fifth in the Busch Series Driver’s Points.

“This car was really good on short runs,” said Hamlin following the race. “But the longer we ran the worse the car got. Other cars were falling off on old tires, but we seemed to fall off a lot faster and a lot further than they did. But next week we head to a short track and I am looking forward to that.”

The next stop for the NASCAR Busch Series will be Hamlin’s hometown for another night race as they compete in the Emerson Radio 250 at Richmond International Speedway. The race is scheduled to start at 7:50 p.m. on Friday, September 9 th and will be broadcast on the TNT network. Qualifying is earlier that day at 4:40 p.m. and will be televised on the Speed Channel.