Denny Hamlin drove to victory in a rain-shortened Toyota 500 at Darlington Raceway.
Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Darlington Raceway
Race 6 of 36 – 311.4 miles, 228 laps
TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, DENNY HAMLIN
2nd, KYLE BUSCH
3rd, Kevin Harvick*
4th, Brad Keselowski*
5th, ERIK JONES
10th, MARTIN TRUEX JR.
11th, CHRISTOPHER BELL
27th, DANIEL SUÁREZ
33rd, TIMMY HILL
*non-Toyota driver
TOYOTA QUOTES
DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx “Delivering Strength” Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 1st
Are you happy to have won tonight’s Toyota 500 at Darlington?
“I’ve got my happy face on and made sure I brought it with me today. Just can’t thank FedEx and Toyota and Coca-Cola, Jordan Brand – the whole JGR engine and fab shop. The pit crew did a great job today. Everybody really. I was pretty happy with how it all turned out.”
What does it mean to win at Darlington again?
“This is a driver’s race track. You can move around, you can do different things to make your car handle. We got it right today.”
What was going through your mind on old tires coming to the final restart?
“The weather really didn’t play a factor in our call there. It was really, we were limited on tires. We had just come to take tires, which was our last set, but we had a set of one-lap scuffs. They weren’t glued up in time. We didn’t have time to glue them. The only choice for us was to stay out. We were really the best car on that long run anyway. I think the right car won.”
Did you feel the field was more intense with a shorter race and a threat of weather?
“It was good. The distance was perfect. It’s not too little and it’s not too much. I think the distance was perfect. I think it gives you enough racing to where things work out and you can still make your way from the back to the front and be able to win the race. It’s not too short. I’m in favor of these types of races.”
What is it about Darlington that suits your driving style?
“I run good here. Sometimes I run a different line here than most. It just works and it’s always worked. I don’t know what it is. It’s awesome to win here with the Toyota 500. Ever since I came here for my very first Xfinity start and got a top-10, that essentially got my job in the Xfinity Series, there’s something about me and this track that works.”
TRD PR
