Denny Hamlin uses tire strategy to take Richmond Cup win

Groups split on working a a single or two-quit pit approach in the remaining stage of Sunday’s race at Richmond (Va.) Raceway, with William Byron and Martin Truex Jr. opting for just one quit in the 170-lap stage whilst Hamlin and Harvick had been among the all those making use of two stops.

Byron, on older tires, managed to hold on to the guide for 71 laps but Hamlin – on fresher tires – last but not least ran him down and handed him with four of 400 laps remaining. Hamlin then had to keep off Harvick by .552 seconds to receive his initial acquire of the 2022 period.

The acquire was also the initial for Toyota with the Up coming Gen auto and very first for a Toyota driver since past October at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

The get was significantly-necessary for Hamlin, who experienced nevertheless to rating a top rated-10 complete this time and was 22nd in the collection standings moving into the race.

Hamlin and Harvick experienced pit under green for new tires with less than 50 laps remaining while Byron’s closing stop came with about 90 laps remaining.

“Just wonderful tactic there. Just drove as really hard as I could. Just so proud of this entire FedEx Camry group, male, just under no circumstances supplying up,” Hamlin stated. “There was no doubt in my intellect, perhaps just a small, but they acquired this motor vehicle correct there towards the end.

“Wow, unbelievable.”

Asked about how the acquire could soar-start out his season, Hamlin stated, “We needed a info position, a little something, a superior operate to variety of stability ourselves on other tracks. Of course, I imagine we received it listed here.”

Byron managed to hang on to end third, Truex fourth and Kyle Larson rounded out the top rated-5.

Completing the prime-10 had been Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman, Kyle Busch and Austin Dillon.

Stage 3

Adhering to the crack amongst Stages 2 and 3, the lead-lap cars and trucks all pit with Truex the first off pit road.

On the restart on Lap 241, Truex led the way followed by Bell and Ross Chastain.

Cody Ware wrecked in Turns 1 and 2 on Lap 246 soon after contact with Erik Jones and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. to carry out a caution.

Just a handful of automobiles pit below warning, like Hamlin, Byron, Daniel Suarez and Bubba Wallace. Truex remained on the monitor and in the direct when the race returned to green on Lap 253.

On Lap 257, Ty Dillon knocked Cole Custer into Austin Cindric and sent him spinning to deliver out a warning. Most of the direct-lap vehicles pit with Truex the 1st off pit highway.

Byron was among individuals who stayed out and led the way on the restart on Lap 264. He was adopted by Suarez, Austin Dillon and Truex.

With 110 laps remaining, Byron taken care of a smaller lead more than Truex whilst Hamlin remained in 3rd, 3 seconds behind the chief.

On Lap 308, a number of direct-lap cars and trucks, like Harvick, Elliott and Almirola, kicked off a spherical of eco-friendly-flag stops.

Corey LaJoie was penalized for dashing on pit road and had to provide a go-as a result of penalty.

At the time the cycle of stops was done on Lap 325, Byron cycled back to the lead followed by Hamlin, Harvick, Bell and Austin Dillon.

On Lap 347, Kyle Busch was black-flagged by NASCAR and advised to pit for acquiring unapproved tape on his front grille. Busch ultimately pit on Lap 351 to have the tape taken out from his No. 18 Toyota.

Numerous vehicles who ended up functioning a two-quit strategy in the ultimate stage, manufactured their last pit stops on Lap 353, like Harvick, Austin Dillon, Bell and Custer.

With 25 laps remaining, Byron preserved a 3.2-2nd direct around Truex as Larson ran third, Blaney fourth and Hamlin – on a great deal fresher tires – in fifth.

On Lap 395, Hamlin moved into second with Truex and Harvick right behind him.

Hamlin got all around Byron for the direct with four laps remaining.

Stage 2

Truex ran down Bell on older tires and cruised to the Stage 2 acquire by 1.2 seconds.

Chastain concluded third, Joey Logano fourth and Blaney rounded out the leading-5.

Subsequent the split between Phases 1 and 2, all the direct-lap automobiles pit with Blaney the very first off pit highway. Bowman was penalized for pitting outside the house his pit box and had to restart from the rear of the subject.

When the race returned to inexperienced on Lap 81, Blaney led the way followed by Chastain, Chase Elliott, Bell and Kyle Busch.

Truex grew to become the very first of the lead-lap automobiles to make a green-flag pit end on Lap 124. Quite a few others followed on Lap 125. Blaney pit on Lap 130.

After the cycle of stops was concluded on Lap 155, Truex emerged the chief adopted by Blaney, Kyle Busch, Logano and Elliott.

With 65 laps remaining in the phase, Truex maintained a 2.9-second guide above Blaney with Logano in 3rd.

Chastain was the 1st driver to kick off another round of green-flag pit stops on Lap 174.

Many motorists – such as Bell – were being making an attempt to complete the phase on just one quit.

With 45 laps to go, Bell and Hamlin ran 1st and second – and experienced not stopped – though Truex was third, the very first motor vehicle who had manufactured a second pit quit.

With 25 laps remaining, Bell’s direct around Truex experienced dropped to beneath 4 seconds with Hamlin in third.

On Lap 212, Truex went to the inside of Bell on the backstretch and reclaimed the lead on more recent tires.

Phase 1

Blaney dominated the early heading, primary all 70 laps on his way to the Phase 1 get, his 3rd of the 2022 season.

Byron was 2nd, Chastain 3rd, Truex fourth and Kyle Busch rounded out the top rated-5.

Blaney began on the pole and remained out front the initially 10 laps until finally NASCAR was forced to display a warning on Lap 11 for Kurt Busch, who stalled on the backstretch. “No fuel stress,” Busch claimed in excess of his radio.

A handful of drivers elected to pit. The race returned to green on Lap 16 with Blaney still out front.

With 40 laps remaining in the initially stage, Blaney preserved nearly a 2nd guide about Byron with Kyle Busch shut powering in 3rd.

With 20 laps to go, Blaney’s lead more than Byron had grown to 1.5 seconds while Kyle Busch remained in third, Chastain fourth and Truex fifth.

By Lap 53, all four JGR vehicles – which have struggled to begin the 2022 time – ended up jogging in the prime-10.

On Lap 59, Chastain made his way about Kyle Busch to take above the 3rd situation.

Cindric (unapproved changes), Justin Haley and Greg Biffle (both equally for a number of pre-qualifying inspection failures) all started the race from the rear of the industry.