Sprint Cup - Hamlin Wins in Pennsylvania with Montoya a Surprise Second
By Stephen Lars
After a two year long losing streak, Dennie Hamlin finally managed the climb to the top of the podium. Hamlin won the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500, the 21st event of the season at the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
The event was first scheduled on Sunday but then suspended until Monday due to heavy rain. Hamlin began in sixth place, making a great effort to avoid being passed and advancing as soon as possible.
Hamlin was absolutely determined to overcome prior records. The #11 Toyota driver began accelerating from the beginning of the race, when the flag dropped to give the starting signal. In an impeccable demonstration of talent, Hamlin moved at full speed to overcome a number of skilled pilots, including Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, and the winner of the pole position and championship leader, Tony Stewart, among others.
Hamlin was able to move forward at full speed and obtain the leading position in the competition, a position from which he led the race with great skill and agility, resisting the attacks from and pressure of his pursuers.
With his triumph, Hamlin now boasts five victories as a professional pilot in the highest category at the NASCAR series, in which he currently has 2,713 points and is at fifth place in overall pilot rankings. He is less than 475 points behind Stewart.
However, Hamlin wasn’t he only pilot to shine during the competition. The Columbian Juan Pablo Montoya also made a great performance, coming in a surprise 2nd.
Montoya, who began from 10th place on the grid and whose focus was to stay within the list of 12 best pilots, proved that he was not only able to impose pressure on the leaders, but also able to put on a great show.
After the #42 Chevrolet driver had fallen back to the 31st position due to several contingencies on the track, he managed to surge forward, miraculously steering into 6th.
The race was an unpredictable one, with a difficult circuit and a complex route, but the Ganassi Racing Earnhardt driver was able to overcome all the obstacles presented on the course.
Although Montoya wasn’t able to overcome Hamlin, he was able to place himself behind the leader, resisting strong attacks from Clint Bowyer, Sam Horish Jr., and Kasey Kahne, his closest pursuers – who also managed to gain 3rd through 5th place, respectively.
With his success, Montoya now has 170 points and rose in the driver’s general table from 10th to 8th place with 2,631 points.
About the Author
Stephen Lars has been a prominent writer on daily NASCAR races; sports news and the sportsbetting industry for many exceptional sport web sites. You may reprint this article in its full content, please note no modifications to it are accepted.