Amid wreckage, Hamlin leaves with needed boost

[Bakemono]

http://www.nascar.com/2008/news/head...ish/index.html

BRISTOL, Tenn. -- For Denny Hamlin, last week was the low point.
An engine failure that relegated the Joe Gibbs Racing driver to a 39th-place finish at Michigan International Speedway led to a scathingly candid television interview, one in which Hamlin ripped his own team for making "stupid choices" and said his No. 11 squad didn't even deserve to be in the Chase. It was a moment of clear frustration for a driver who's fallen from what seemed a secure playoff spot onto the Chase bubble, and is struggling to build momentum week to week.
Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, the rollercoaster was climbing the hill again. One of a handful of Chase contenders who avoided trouble on the short track, Hamlin recorded a third-place finish that moved him up one position to 11th in the standings, and seemed to ease the pain of the previous week.
"Last week was the low of lows, I guess could you say, for our race team," he said. "You know, there's not one specific place I was sitting there pointing fingers [at]. I just thought as a race team, we just weren't getting the job done. The driver is a big part of that race team, so I felt like there were a lot of things I could have done different throughout the summer. But for the most part mechanical failures ailed us. If we can put a halt to that, we are going to go out there and win races as often as Kyle [Busch] is, we are going to at least be a top-five, top-10 car every week. If you can do that, then you're going to put yourself in position to be a championship contender, because you know, there's going to be weeks when guys have bad weeks. We've just got to get there right now."
Getting there has proven the hard part. Hamlin was a relatively secure seventh in points six weeks ago, but since then has suffered four finishes of 23rd or worse. Entering Bristol, he held only a 26-point lead on Clint Bowyer for the 12th and final Chase position.
Leaving east Tennessee, he had a little more breathing room -- and some help. Bowyer and 11th-place Kasey Kahne were each involved in a seven-car crash on Lap 216 that started when Casey Mears moved up into Michael Waltrip. Bowyer's crew patched things up and salvaged a seventh-place finish, while Kahne was done for the night and settled for 40th. As a result, Bowyer moved to 12th in the standings and Kahne plummeted to 14th. Hamlin now has a 21-point lead on Bowyer heading to Auto Club Speedway in California next week.
"Definitely a boost of confidence, for sure," Hamlin said. "We needed it at this point. A lot of the guys right behind me finished in the top 10 also. We gained a little bit on a couple guys in front of us. But this is what we needed. All we can ask for is a top-three finish, and if we do that, it's going to work itself out in three races. But we can't help how good or bad they run."
Hamlin wasn't the only one to benefit from the events of Saturday night, which also saw Chase contenders Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Jeff Burton have trouble. On the heels of a 29th-place finish at Watkins Glen and an accident-induced 42nd-place result last week at Michigan, Jeff Gordon recorded a much-needed fifth. He remained ninth in points, but increased his margin over 10th-place Matt Kenseth from eight to 30, and more importantly had the kind of strong car he'll need to secure a berth in the Chase.
"It wasn't the best racecar that we put on the racetrack, but it was a really good racecar," Gordon said. "We had good track position through qualifying and great pit stops. Everything really worked out. It was kind of a flawless night in a way. We just didn't have the car to go up there and battle for the lead, but still had a great car. A good night for us."
It was also a good night for Hamlin, who this week left the histrionics to others -- namely Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Busch and race winner Carl Edwards, who battled during the race and bumped one another after it.
"It was a solid day, and we did what we had to," he said. "I didn't have to really race guys too hard, and guys really didn't race me too hard. It was a good day for us. This is what we needed."

[Zembonez]

Hamlin needs to learn to temper his comments to the press. After last week's race he basically called his team inept morons on live TV. In racing, you only get so many chances to call your team idiots before you are the EX driver for that team. They may have problems but their headquarters would be a much better place to point them out instead of doing it on national TV.

He might want to show us some "talent" before he spouts off next time. I think hehas it in him to do just that.

[Bakemono]

Hamlin has definetly shown talent in the past. As far as whether or not he should have openly criticized his team, maybe thats what they need. If they are making poor decisions that is costing them a chance at wins and good finishes, he has every right to critize them. Its the driver's job to tell the crew what the car is doing so that they can set it up correctly and then take that car and win races with it. If they are making poor decisions that prevent him from doing that, well, I dont blame him for being frustrated.
Look at all the times during the race when Kyle Busch was way out front and you kept hearing him say on the radio, "this car is junk" or "this is the worst car Ive ever had" but at the end of the race he tells the media, "the car was great" or "the crew did a great job preparing and adjusting on the car". Sometimes people need a little kick in the pants to make them perform their best.
I also think the frustration stems from the fact that Kyle Busch is winning races and Hamlin has only won 1 race. Hamlin is obviously a very competitive person and doesnt like to be shown up by anyone, not even a teammate. No doubt Hamlin is under a lot of pressure and is being asked, "Kyle is winning, why arent you?" After a while, that gets old, frustration builds and it gets the best of you.
Now Hamlin sees Joey Logano moving up and is expected by everyone to win races right off the bat. No doubt Hamlin sees his job as being threatened and doesnt want to be the #3 driver, so he is looking for any reason to deflect the blame away from himself.
Hamlin is a very talented driver and he will get his wins. Its just that Gibbs has stepped up their game so much this past year and are now expected to contend for the win every week. When Hamlin isnt up there, but Kyle Busch is, its upsetting and frustrating.

[Zembonez]

No doubt Hamlin had every right to be frustrated but a mature driver would have taken the team's criticism to the hauler. Poking at your team on national television lacks class and seems amateurish. As I said, I agree he has the talent. Just needs a little polishing, I think he has what it takes to become one of the good ones. Time will tell.

[Bakemono]

You gotta remember, this is only Hamlin's 2nd year in the big leagues, so he does still have some growing up to do.
I think you gotta tell it like it is though. Why sugarcoat things and say the car was great and the pitcrew did a great job when the car was really a piece of crap and the pitcrew make mistakes that cost you track position?
It may not be what the rest of the team wants to hear, but maybe it is what they NEED to hear. Perhaps being call out on national TV will light a fire under their asses and make them work harder and perform better.

[Zembonez]

If I had a team member that thought it was his duty to call me out on network TV, he wouldn't make the parade lap the next week. Sportsmanship in what is called for. He isn't the only member of the TEAM. You fuck up as a team and you win as a team. You have to have each other's backs... Hamlin can't build the car or set up the car without them.

What happened to people having a little class?

Don't misunderstand my point here. I have nothing at all against Hamlin. I just think a little more team related spirit is needed to do well consistently in the sport.

[Bakemono]

True, but its Hamlin every week who has to get the job done on national TV. If Hamlin does his job and the team screws up, I think he has every right to call them out on it.
Clearly you and I have a difference of opinion...

[Zembonez]

Yeah that's cool on this end though. Everybody can't agree on everything. We both agree he has talent

Cheers