“I did what I had to do….I know what our car’s got .”
—Denny Hamlin, the new leader in NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship, to be crowned Nov. 21 at Homestead-Miami Speedway
Denny Hamlin today won Chase Race 8 of 10 en route to Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway (Nov. 19-21). With the victory, Hamlin wrestled the points lead away from four-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson in the Chase for the 2010 Sprint Cup Championship. Kevin Harvick finished sixth to remain in striking distance of the title, just 59 points behind Hamlin. It is the closest-ever three-way Chase for the Sprint Cup this late in the season.
It is the first time since 2005 that Johnson has relinquished the Championship lead this late in the campaign. Hamlin now leads the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship by 33 points over Johnson, who carried a 14-point lead into Texas but leaves in second place. Just one race (Phoenix, next Sunday) remains before NASCAR’s series-crowning Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Since the inception of the Chase in 2004, the driver holding the points lead with two races remaining has gone on to win the Sprint Cup Championship.
KIDS FREE: NASCAR’s series-crowning Ford Championship Weekend returns to Homestead-Miami Speedway Nov. 19-21. Kids 12 & under are admitted FREE (general admission) for Friday night’s Camping World Truck Series Championship and for just $10 (reserved seats) for Saturday’s Nationwide Series Championship. Tickets for Sunday’s Sprint Cup Championship start at $55. Parking is always free at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and fans are invited to bring food and drink in a 14x14x14 cooler. For more info, visit THEChampionshipTrack.com or call (866) 409-RACE.