Hamlin takes pole for Crown Royal presents the Dan Lowry 400
Late Friday afternoon, Chesterfield native Denny Hamlin won the sixth pole of his 89 race career and the first of this season with a lap of 21.423 seconds, 126.033 mph, in qualifying for the Crown Royal presents the Dan Lowry 400.
“It definitely feels real good it’s a good start to the weekend that’s for sure,” Hamlin said. “A pole a Richmond equals a race win anywhere else I go.”
Being at his home track made taking the pole a pressure filled event for Hamlin. “What’s good about it is we’re able to perform under pressure,” said Hamlin. “How I knew we were under pressure was my heart was beating out of my chest during my lap. When your foot is sitting there shaking on the guess pedal the nerves are starting to get to you. I don’t know why. It’s just the starting position for us. But there’s just something special around this racetrack. You just feel at home and when you perform well it definitely gives you that extra boost of confidence going into the weekend.”
Kahne take pole
The signs could not have been more clear for Kasey Kahne during Nationwide pole qualifying on Friday afternoon. In his Lipton Dodge, Kahne flew around the track at 125.127 to capture the pole in the Lipton Tea 250.
Carl Edwards joined Kahne on row one. Chesterfield’s Denny Hamlin had the third fastest time with 124.708 and is joined on row two by Mark Green.
Green leads speed in Nationwide Practice
Mark Green in the No. 70 Fore Travel Chevrolet ran the fastest practice lap during the final practice for the Nationwide Lipton Tea 250 at Richmond International Raceway. Green set the pace with a top speed of 124.792 which he set on lap number three of the 59 he ran.
Kasey Kahne in the No. 9 Lipton Dodge was close behind with a speed 124.418, set on the final of his 46 laps.
Mike Bliss ran the third fastest time and Landon Cassill was number four.
JGR’s Kyle Busch was fifth and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top 10 with a speed of 123.813.
Sadler auctions helmet for autism
Elliott Sadler, driver of the no. 19 Stanley Tools Dodge Charger, is raising awareness and money for autism with an online, signed helmet auction.
“The bid is already up to $3,000 in only the second day of online bitting. I’m proud of the race fans and the people bidding on it. All of the money is going to charity and that makes me feel pretty special because of all the fans that are getting involved. Fans have until May 19th to bid on the helmet.”
Sadler jokes that the helmet was almost lost last weekend after Talladega when he was so mad he nearly threw it. Visit http://www.sadlerfoundation.org to bid.
Earnhardt, Jr., closer to win at RIR
Looking for his first win in 71 races, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., got just a little closer this afternoon in the final practice before Saturday’s Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400.
Earnhardt, Jr., posted the fastest time on the track at 21.878 and a top speed of 123.412 mph. The speed and time came in his 44th of 45 total practice laps.
Earnhardt, Jr.’s last win came May 6, 2006 at Richmond International Raceway.
Hamlin fourth … again
Denny Hamlin is stuck in fourth.
After a fourth-place finish in the inaugural Denny Hamlin 175 at Southside Speedway Thursday night, Hamlin took fourth in the final practice round of the Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race. His top speed of 122.549 mph put him around the ¾ mile oval in 22.032 seconds on the 64th of 64 total laps.
He had the 10th best time in the final practice for the Lipton Tea 250 Nationwide race.
Sara Page is the sports editor for the Midlothian Exchange.
