Denny Hamlin celebrates in Victory Lane at Kansas Photo – Getty Images for NASCAR

Denny Hamlin won his second race of the season today at Kansas Speedway after holding off Martin Truex Jr. late in the race. 


After a sub-par 2011 season Hamlin is back and more competitive than ever in 2012. 


This race featured only three cautions for a total of 18 caution laps. 


The first caution of the day came out when Kansas native Clint Bowyer spun out attempting to get on pit road. Bowyer suffered some damage, then engine troubles sent him to the garage. Bowyer eventually came back onto the track but his engine expired, ending his day. Regarding his troubles today, Bowyer said, “…anywhere but here.”  Bowyer said earlier this weekend, he would rather win at his hometown track of Kansas than win the Daytona 500. 


The second caution of the day came out on lap 132 for debris. Between these first two cautions many drivers made green-flag pit stops. 


So far this season, green flag pit stops have become less popular with fans.  A staggering stat from the last two races at Texas and Kansas – they have a combined total of five cautions. Something fans aren’t too happy about, but they know this issue is out of NASCAR’s control. 


The final caution of the day came out on lap 186 for Juan Pablo Montoya who hit the wall and spread some debris in the racing groove. 


After the final set of green flag pit stops, Hamlin’s pit crew did an incredible job helping Hamlin gain some ground on Truex Jr. Although Truex Jr. eventually pulled away from Hamlin, Denny would catch Truex Jr. with about 32 laps to go and pass for the lead. Hamlin never looked back and led the final 31 laps. 


With three laps to go, Truex Jr. bomb-dived into turn three coming right up beside Hamlin, but didn’t have enough momentum to stay with Hamlin off turn four. Truex Jr. got loose and lost a bunch of ground, without recovering before crossing the finish line. 


Denny Hamlin came off turn four, to win his first race at Kansas Speedway. Commenting during the press conference, Hamlin said that it would be a “…no lose situation…” with him or Martin Truex Jr. winning the race as Hamlin and Truex Jr. are friends. 


Truex Jr. was very disappointed, coming up short after a strong run for most of the race. Truex Jr. hasn’t won a Sprint Cup race since Dover in June of 2007 when he was driving for DEI. 


Hamlin, now fifth in point standings and with two wins for the season is looking very good heading into the next race at one of his favorite tracks. Next week the Sprint Cup Series is at Hamlin’s home track, Richmond International Speedway.