| Even with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in | | | | the USA Today, "It was an eventful day for us. I |
| his left knee, Denny Hamlin still had what it took to | | | | didn't think it was going to be this hard or that |
| post his second-ever victory at the Goody's Fast | | | | dramatic at the end. Nonetheless, it's a good feeling." |
| Pain Relief 500 at the Martinsville Speedway at the | | | | Hamlin started the Martinsville race in 19th position, |
| end of March. Hamlin cruised into Victory Lane on | | | | making a steady back-to-front flip during the 508 laps |
| March 29, enduring a rain delay that postponed his | | | | of the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500. Now that he's a |
| ACL surgery by two days. Hamlin's first-place finish at | | | | bona fide NASCAR winner this year, Hamlin will look |
| Martinsville was his first of the year, and the Joe | | | | forward to the next stretch of Cup Series races as |
| Gibbs Racing superstar now stands at No. 15 on | | | | they take the racing circuit into the summertime |
| Sprint Cup standings for the season. | | | | months. Next up for NASCAR's biggest and best |
| Denny Hamlin finished in first place for the second | | | | drivers will be Phoenix (April 10), Texas (April 18) and |
| time in three years at the recent Goody's Fast Pain | | | | Talladega (April 25), with several more big-time races |
| Relief 500, beating teammate Joey Logano in the | | | | smoldering through the month of May. |
| final stretch of the NASCAR showdown. Jeff Gordon | | | | If Martinsville's results were any indication of how the |
| finished third at Martinsville, with Ryan Newman in | | | | next segment of the NASCAR schedule will play out, |
| fourth and Martin Truex Jr. in fifth place. The race, | | | | Denny Hamlin is in for one wild ride. The Chesterfield, |
| delayed a day due to rain, went back and forth on | | | | Va. native has had only lukewarm success in the first |
| possession from Hamlin to Jeff Burton for most of | | | | part of racing season, placing 17th at Daytona, 29th |
| the day, but in the end a last-minute gamble with a | | | | at Fontana, 19th at Las Vegas, 21st at Atlanta and |
| tire pit paid off for No. 11, who ultimately regained his | | | | 19th at Bristol. Now that he's crossed into winning |
| race-leading position and stole the show in Martinsville. | | | | territory, however, Hamlin is revved up and ready to |
| For everyone with <a rel="nofollow" | | | | go – after his knee surgery, that is. |
| onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(' | | | | Hamlin underwent surgery for a torn ACL, which he |
| outgoing/article_exit_link');" href=" tickets</a> | | | | endured while playing basketball in January, just two |
| to this year's Martinsville Sprint Cup race, the | | | | days after his Martinsville victory, but taking time off |
| excitement only grew with seven laps left to go in | | | | for recovery just isn't in his plans. Hamlin is scheduled |
| the race, when Hamlin went in to pit. The | | | | to be back in action at the next Sprint Cup Series |
| green-white-checkered flag finish was a rousing way | | | | race on April 10 in Phoenix, though backup Casey |
| for the Martinsville race to go out with a bang, and at | | | | Mears will be on standby for the race as a relief |
| the end of the day race winner Denny Hamlin told | | | | driver should Hamlin need one. |