Hamlin gets first Truck Series win at Martinsville

Denny Hamlin celebrates grabbing his first career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory on Saturday at Martinsville Speedway. (John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)by Sporting News Wire Service
Making excellent use of a fresh set of tires, Denny Hamlin drove through the field after a pit stop on Lap 134 and won Saturday's Kroger 200 Camping World Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway in his only start this year.

Ron Hornaday Jr. ran second to make a small dent in the advantage on series points leader Austin Dillon, who finished third. Johnny Sauter ran fourth, followed by Joey Coulter and Kevin Harvick.

The victory was Hamlin's first in the series in 12 starts, adding the driver of the No. 18 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota to the list those who have won at least one race in each of NASCAR's top three series.

Dillon passed Harvick for the lead on Lap 141 shortly after a restart that followed the sixth caution of the race, caused by contact between Germain Racing teammates Todd Bodine and Max Papis, who battled until Papis spun off Bodine's front bumper.

After Papis spun again to bring out the seventh caution, Dillon led the field to the green flag for a restart on Lap 160 and held the top spot until Ryan Sieg's spin on Lap 172 caused caution No. 8. Moments before the yellow flew, Hornaday passed Harvick for second, setting up a battle between a four-time champion (Hornaday) and a driver seeking his first title (Dillon).

When the field restarted on Lap 179, Dillon and Hornaday held the top two spots, chased by Hamlin and Sauter, both on fresher tires. One caution later, Hamlin powered beneath both Hornaday and Dillon on a Lap 187 restart and pulled away for the win.

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NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race Number 23
Unofficial Race Results for the 13Th Annual Kroger 200 - Saturday, October 29, 2011
Martinsville Speedway - Martinsville, VA - .526 Mile Paved
Total Race Length - 200 Laps - 105.2 Miles - Purse: $433,360

Leader
Fin Str Trk Driver Team Laps Pts Bns Driver Rating Winnings Status Tms Laps
1 3 18 Denny Hamlin(i) Toyota / Traxxas Toyota 200 0 139.6 $31,350 Running 2 68
2 2 33 Ron Hornaday Jr. Steak-Umm Steaks / Chastity Baker Chevrolet 200 43 1 127.9 $22,300 Running 3 31
3 10 3 Austin Dillon Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet 200 42 1 113.0 $16,850 Running 2 45
4 4 13 Johnny Sauter SafeAuto / Curb Records Chevrolet 200 41 1 117.6 $17,075 Running 2 37
5 12 22 Joey Coulter # darrellgwynnfoundation.com / RCR Graphics Chevrolet 200 39 96.0 $12,925 Running
6 6 2 Kevin Harvick(i) Tide / Kroger Chevrolet 200 0 115.3 $8,175 Running 1 2
7 13 21 Cale Gale Rheem Heating, Cooling and Water Heating Chevrolet 200 37 88.7 $8,025 Running
8 9 17 Timothy Peters GearWrench / Strutmasters.com Toyota 200 36 98.4 $11,625 Running
9 28 62 Brendan Gaughan South Point Hotel and Casino Toyota 200 35 74.0 $11,475 Running
10 5 31 James Buescher Wolfpack Rentals Chevrolet 200 34 81.7 $11,075 Running
11 7 5 Todd Bodine NTB / Service Central Toyota 200 34 1 94.0 $11,450 Running 1 1
12 1 88 Matt Crafton Roto-Rooter / Menards Chevrolet 200 33 1 100.2 $14,250 Running 1 11
13 18 8 Nelson Piquet Jr. # QualComm / AutoTrac Chevrolet 200 31 70.3 $9,900 Running
14 21 70 Jeff Agnew Clarence's Steak House Chevrolet 200 30 59.8 $7,600 Running
15 26 23 Jason White GunBroker.com Chevrolet 200 29 63.7 $10,875 Running
16 11 7 Miguel Paludo # Stemco Duroline Toyota 200 28 66.6 $9,875 Running
17 8 6 Justin Lofton CollegeComplete.com Chevrolet 200 27 77.7 $9,625 Running
18 15 9 Max Papis GEICO Toyota 200 26 74.8 $9,575 Running
19 14 24 Elliott Sadler(i) Virginia Lottery Chevrolet 200 0 84.0 $7,275 Running 1 5
20 29 36 Grant Enfinger England's Stove Works Dodge 200 24 54.6 $7,950 Running
21 16 29 Parker Kligerman # Penske Truck Leasing Dodge 200 23 53.5 $9,450 Running
22 22 81 David Starr Zachry / BYF.org / ASI Limited Toyota 200 22 72.5 $9,425 Running
23 17 39 Ryan Sieg Pull-A-Part Used Auto Parts Chevrolet 200 21 61.3 $9,400 Running
24 20 92 Clay Rogers Tri City Tire / Fleet HQ / BTS Tires & Wheels Chevrolet 199 20 41.3 $9,375 Running
25 24 66 Max Gresham World Crown 300 / Gresham & Associates Chevrolet 198 19 50.7 $8,225 Running
26 36 09 Bryan Silas(i) Rockingham Speedway Ford 198 0 31.0 $7,050 Running
27 19 60 Cole Whitt # Fuel Doctor / Red Bull Chevrolet 197 17 64.6 $8,325 Running
28 25 51 Josh Richards Joy Mining Machinery / U.S. Navy Seals Toyota 197 16 56.7 $6,950 Running
29 33 57 Norm Benning Norm Benning Racing Chevrolet 197 15 31.2 $6,900 Running
30 31 65 Tyler Tanner EF-65 Ford 195 14 30.4 $7,375 Running
31 27 97 Matt Lofton Strutmasters.com Toyota 195 13 38.3 $6,425 Running
32 34 32 Blake Feese AccuDoc Solutions Chevrolet 182 12 36.1 $6,400 Running
33 30 20 Johanna Long # Panhandle Grading & Paving Toyota 166 11 35.2 $6,375 Running
34 32 07 TJ Duke Merrill Lynch Toyota 159 10 32.4 $6,325 Running
35 23 4 Ricky Carmichael Monster Energy Chevrolet 37 9 42.2 $6,300 Accident
36 35 93 Mike Garvey S&W Services Chevrolet 8 8 28.6 $6,267 Brakes

Race Comments: Before an estimated attendance of 18,000, Denny Hamlin won the Kroger 200, his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory. Prior to the green flag, the following truck dropped to the rear of the field for the reason indicated: No. 07 (missed driver introductions).

Failed to Qualify: (2) 10 Jennifer Jo Cobb(i), 99 Charlie Vest.

Time of Race: 1 Hrs, 35 Mins, 49 Secs. Average Speed: 65.876 MPH Margin of Victory: 1.210 Seconds

Caution Flags: 9 for 50 laps: Laps: 39-42 (#4 accident turn 2 [29]); 50-57 (#8, 60 accident turn 2 [7]); 87-92 (#97 accident turn 4 [62]); 105-109 (#6, 66 accident turn 2 [32]); 115-119 (Debris [36]); 132-137 (5, 9 accident backstretch [70]); 147-151 (#9 spin turn 3 [31]); 174-178 (#39 accident turn 2 [92]); 181-186 (#20, 65 accident turn 4 [39]).

Lead Changes: 12 among 8 drivers: M. Crafton 1-11; R. Hornaday Jr. 12; J. Sauter 13-47; R. Hornaday Jr. 48-76; D. Hamlin(i) 77-130; J. Sauter 131-132; T. Bodine 133; E. Sadler(i) 134-138; K. Harvick(i) 139-140; A. Dillon 141-178; R. Hornaday Jr. 179; A. Dillon 180-186; D. Hamlin(i) 187-200.