Hamlin and Toyota win at Kansas; Bowyer second

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By The Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Denny Hamlin's pit crew gave him the lead, rushing him out just ahead of Kevin Harvick near the race's halfway point.

Once out in front, Hamlin knew he'd be tough to catch. His car was just too good, especially in a restrictor-plate race.

Hamlin used a fast pit stop to get the lead and lost it only briefly over the final half of the race, holding off Nationwide Series points-leader and Kansas native Clint Bowyer to win the Kansas Lottery 300 on Saturday.

Kansas Lottery 300 Unofficial Results

Pos. Driver Make
1. Denny Hamlin Toyota
2. Clint Bowyer Chevrolet
3. David Ragan Ford
4. Carl Edwards Ford
5. Matt Kenseth Ford
6. Brad Keselowski Chevrolet
7. Kasey Kahne Dodge
8. Jason Leffler Toyota
9. Joey Logano Toyota
10. Kelly Bires Ford

"With restrictor plates on these cars, it's hard for anyone to get a run on you," Hamlin said. "I had a heck of a time getting around the 64 [David Stremme], which was a lap down. It's tough. I knew once I got in front of [Harvick], he was going to have to be significantly faster than I was."

Hamlin started 19th and gradually worked through the field, moving in behind Harvick, the pole-sitter, for second. Hamlin got out of the pits faster than Harvick after Bobby Hillin Jr. spun out on Lap 93 and led 99 of the final 107 laps en route to his fourth Nationwide victory of the year and ninth overall.

Hamlin's victory in Joe Gibbs Racing's No. 18 Toyota was the 18th of the season for second-year make, securing the 2008 manufacturer's title. The performance of four teams fielding six Camrys -- Braun Racing, Germain Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing and Michael Waltrip Racing -- have combined to produce 48 top-five finishes, 85 top-10 results and 11 pole positions in the first 30 events of the 2008 season..

Hamlin became the eighth driver to win in eight Nationwide races at 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway, and the first to lead the most laps.

"We didn't have a good qualifying spot, but we definitely made the best of it," Hamlin said. "Our car was not so great at the beginning, probably a mid top-10 car for the first 75 laps, then we had one adjustment and the car really took off."

Bowyer tried to put the pressure on Hamlin.

He started 17th and worked his way toward the front, moving in behind the leader with just over 30 laps left. Though he never could catch Hamlin, Bowyer still increased his series lead to 196 points over Carl Edwards, who finished fourth. David Ragan was third, Matt Kenseth fifth.

"We want to win more races," Bowyer said. "You don't travel across the country and be gone that much from home and not want to win. That's what we're here for: we're racers and we want to win. But we want to win a championship. If I don't win another race and we have that championship trophy on the mantel, I won't be a bit sorry and I won't feel bad about it."

Harvick ran strong early on, leading 88 of the first 93 laps after earning the pole.

Then things went bad.

A slow pit stop during a caution on Lap 93 gave Hamlin the lead and Harvick spent the next 45 or so laps trying to catch him. Still running second, Harvick told his pit crew with about 60 laps left that he had a dead battery. He had to slow his car for several laps before heading onto pit road, then fell a lap behind while the crew changed out the battery. He finished 13th.

Harvick's day still wasn't as bad as Kyle Busch's. It seems his bad luck in Sprint Cup has transferred to the Nationwide Series.

Starting 18th, Busch made a push to the front, positioning himself for a possible run at a ninth Nationwide win this season. Instead, last week's Nationwide winner stormed off to his hauler after being spun into the wall on Lap 153.

And it was all because of a lug nut. He had one come loose during a pit stop and started slowing his car coming around Turn 4 to go back onto pit road. Mike Bliss rammed him from behind and the car spun into the wall nearly head-on, crumpling the front end, ending his day.

"I had a lug nut come loose and got run over by the 1," Busch said in typically blunt fashion.

Mark Martin had some problems of his own.

He was running second when his left rear tire appeared to blow out and spun his car around into the wall on Lap 45. He sat down on the track in obvious pain after getting out of the car, but was able to limp over to a waiting ambulance. Martin was later evaluated and released from the on-track medical center.

"I'm OK -- I just took a whipping," Martin said. "It was a hard lick, but I'm all right."