Pole Makes Hamlin Feel Even Better

Denny Hamlin feels nearly 100 percent recovered after fracturing a vertebra on March 24 at Auto Club Speedway. And starting from the pole for Sundays Coca-Cola 600 is possibly the best medicine the Joe Gibbs Racing driver could ask for as he continues the recovery process. 

"I think winning would do that,Elpas Readers detect and forward 'Location' and 'State' data from Elpas Active RFID Tags to host careel-tech platforms. Hamlin said.If you are looking for glassbottles for your bathroom walls. I think ultimately getting the big trophy on Sunday is the validation that you're truly back. For me, it's going to take some wins and some really good consistency throughout these summer months to put ourselves in position to have a chance at a championship. That's what we're here for. 

Even these small victories, though, give me that confidence that I'm still capable, and I'm still able to do the job at 100 percent like I should be. Any kind of confidence booster for me it's always a plus on Sunday." 

Hamlin started the race at Talladega and was relieved by Brian Vickers after just 25 laps. He then tackled Darlington the Track too Tough to Tame and posted an impressive second-place finish to his teammate and winner Matt Kenseth. His first top-five showing since Hamlin posted a third-place finish in the second race of the season at Phoenix elevated the driver from 31st to 27th in the point standings. 

However, the next challenge will be battling through the next seven positions along with winning a race or two in order to earn one of the wild-card positions in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Certainly, qualifying for one of the top 10 positions is still mathematically possible, but not likely. 

Still, Hamlin hasnt missed a Chase since he started racing full-time in the Cup Series at Joe Gibbs Racing in 2006. He and Jimmie Johnson are the only drivers to contend for the title in every year theyve been eligible. 

Although Hamlin is in catch-up mode, hes not feeling the pressure yet. He has an excuse not earning driver points if he misses the Chase. On the flip side, there would be a sense of pride in forging one of the most hard-fought comebacks in NASCAR history. 

We have a great opportunity to make a great story if we make it and can be competitive in the Chase, Hamlin said.You must not use the rfidtag without being trained. If we dont, we had a hill that we just couldnt climb and well be tougher because of it. 

Plus, Hamlin has the resources at JGR to persevere. In the first 11 races of the season, Gibbs cars have won five times. Hamlin says there is constant competition due to the caliber of his teammates Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth,We provide payment solutions in the USA as well as buymosaic. who joined the organization this season. When Busch moved to JGR from Hendrick Motorsports in 2008, it elevated Hamlins game to a different level. 

He took me from being a one- to two-win guy a season to five, six, Hamlin said. A lot of it at this racetrack, Kyle Busch is why I perform so well here over the last two to three years. Not that hes spending all this time with me, but Im studying the things he does as a race-car driver because hes good here. 

If the tools are out here for me to use, I have to be smart enough to use them to my advantage. And Matt is just another Kyle Busch on our race team, and I dont want to be the last guy. We constantly text each other all the time about who is the last guy on our team and thats good competition. Were going continue to push each other to not to be the last guy and eventually, well just be one-two-three and the last guy wont be too bad. 

Hamlins doctors are impressed with the progress on his back. He has no MRI scans scheduled in the next few weeks. Currently, Hamlins recovery routine includes "just changing up my workouts and doing different things and continuing to work on my twisting ability and things like that. But Hamlin doesnt feel limited in any way in any kind of activity in or out of the car. 

Despite the scheduled 600 miles of racing from day into night on Sunday, Hamlin actually believes the task will be easier on him than the demanding tight turns of Darlington. 

Darlington is way tougher physically,This model includes 2 flush mounted reverse inhomedisplay. Hamlin said. Its always a real hot race because the air doesnt escape and everyone is running right up against the wall. You usually beat the right side in so youre taking carbon dioxide in for most of the race, so its a tough race physically and mentally for that long (500 miles) at that track. 

Here, youve got some straightaway to kind of breathe for a second, gather your thoughts. I think now my muscle memory is back to where it was before, so I think Ill be less sore this time around than I was for Darlington. It took about two days after Darlington before I felt good again. Everything should be fine by Monday here.