If the fastest car won each week there wouldn't be much drama, excitement or even much competition in NASCAR. It would be a runaway with the fans having a pretty good idea who was going to take home the trophy maybe before the race even started.
The fastest car doesn't always win though and it helps set up some of the most intense racing on any given weekend. In May of 2008 the fastest car at the Richmond International Raceway was Denny Hamlin who spanked the field and led 381 of 400 laps. The problem for Hamlin was that when the pay window opened and the laps wound down he wouldn't be around for the finish.
On lap 383 Hamlin lost the lead to Dale Earnhardt Jr. as his right-front tire started to go down. Eventually the tire went down and Hamlin would stop on the track to bring out the caution. He would be penalized by NASCAR for doing so and set up a six lap fight to the finish for Earnhardt Jr., Kyle Busch and Clint Bowyer.
With three laps to go Earnhardt Jr. was sideways and into the turn three wall off the front bumper of Busch who from that day forward would become public enemy No. 1 to Junior Nation. Meanwhile, Clint Boywer would go on to win as Busch fought off Mark Martin for second.
The win was second of Bowyer's career and the first of the 2008 season. For Earnhardt Jr., he was three laps away from taking home his first win in 71 races. It wasn't meant to be as Earnhardt Jr. would have to wait until a month later to snap a 76 winless streak at Michigan.
But ...
What If @DennyHamlin hadn't stopped & brought out caution in 2008, would Dale Jr. have won or would KyBusch have caught & beat him #NASCAR
@18Winning: Dale Jr would of won and saved Kyle and Junior both a lot of grief, but if Clint didn't win, would be as successful today?
@Tmac2824: NOOO!
@88myjr: I was so pissed! DH was being a baby again bc he had a flat. Jr wld have won that race!
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