Denny Hamlin won his 10th Nationwide Series race in his 121st start. Hamlin started on the pole, and the past five Darlington races were won from a top-six starting position. Hamlin’s victory was his first series win in 2010 in his second start. There has been a different race winner for each race in 2010. Hamlin’s last series victory was at Kansas in September 2008. It was Hamlin’s third Darlington victory in five series starts, with all three coming from the pole. Hamlin has posted top-10 finishes in all five of his Darlington races. Hamlin has finished in the top 10 in his past three series races. He led 111 of 147 laps, the most of all drivers. Hamlin’s win was the first in the series for crew chief Kevin Kidd.
The driver who has led the most laps has won six of the past eight races at Darlington. The driver who led the most laps has won six of 10 races in 2010.
Joe Gibbs Racing won for the 46th time in series history. It was JGR’s fourth win in 2010 (Kyle Busch — 3, Hamlin — 1). It was JGR’s fifth series Darlington victory, including four of the past five. With Kyle Busch finishing second, it was the 10th 1-2 finish by Gibbs teammates in series history. The No. 20 has won four of the past five Darlington races.
Busch tied his best Darlington finish, set in August 2003. Busch has led in all 10 races in 2010, the only driver to do so.
Jamie McMurray (third) has posted top-5 finishes in three of his past four Darlington races; it marked his third top-10 in four starts in 2010.
Kasey Kahne (fourth) posted his best finish in eight Darlington races.
Jason Leffler (fifth) scored his best finish of the season.
Coleman Pressley (15th) scored his career-best finish.
Justin Allgaier (17th) posted his worst finish of the season. He had finished 15th or better in the first nine races in 2010.
Kahne, Leffler and Brian Vickers (ninth) marked the third time Braun Racing had three cars finish in the top 10 (Chicago and Dover in 2009). The victory was the second series win at Darlington for Toyota. It was the manufacturer’s fourth series win in 2010 (Toyota — 4, Chevrolet — 3, Dodge — 3, Ford — 0). The last series Ford win came at Phoenix last November.(ESPN)(5-10-2010)
