Denny Hamlin piloting the No. 15 Billy Ballew Motorsports Miccosukee Resorts and Gaming Toyota Tundra looked to be a favorite this Saturday in the Kroger 250 at the Martinsville Speedway. Hamlin put the Craftsman truck on the outside pole for the 250 lap race with a time of 19.818 seconds at a speed of 95.550 mph. but was caught up in an incident on the track causing rear end damage. Instead of a victory, Hamlin brought home a 21st place finish.
From the start of the race, Hamlin reported the truck was tight the center of the corners but had excellent forward bite. Hamlin settled into the third position after the green flag dropped for the 250-lap race but was able to gain the second place position and headed for the leader.
Hamlin took that point position away from Jack Sprague when Sprague got behind a slower truck allowing Hamlin to slide under him for the lead. He took the lead on lap 32 holding it until lap 92 when he let NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series teammate Kyle Busch take the spot to earn five bonus points. Busch is running for a championship in the truck series for Billy Ballew Motorsports. Hamlin quickly retook the lead back on lap 94 and held it again until lap 96 when Busch regained the position. Hamlin pitted on lap 103 giving up the second place position noting he was too tight to wait any longer for adjustments. Billy Ballew Motorsports crew chief, Doug George brought Hamlin down pit road for four tires, fuel and wedge adjustments that sent him back out in the 24th place position for the restart.
Hamlin continued to move through the field during the caution riddled race but was tapped while trying to avoid a multi-truck crash on lap 136 that put the field under red flag conditions for the second time of the night. The truck handling continued to worsen wheel hopping off the exit of the corners. The trucks steering seemed to lock up and Hamlin spun putting an end to his hopes of a victory. Hamlin managed to stay ahead of the leaders bringing home a respectable 21st place finish.
"I had a great time driving in the Craftsman Truck Series," Hamlin said. "I thought we had a truck to win there until I got caught up in something trying to get back through the field. I wish I would have been able to have a better finish for Billy Ballew Motorsports."
Marc Mitchell will be back behind the wheel of the No. 15 Ergon Billy Ballew Motorsports entry when the Craftsman Truck Series returns to action April 26 at the Kansas Speedway.
Discuss