Hamlin's True Colors Ruin Dale Jr.'s Chances

It was Denny Hamlin's race to lose, and when he did, things got ugly for the benefactor of his troubles.

Hamlin led 381 of 410 laps at his home track until his right front tire started going down with 20 laps to go. The slow leak allowed Dale Earnhardt Jr. to pass the No. 11 along with Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch. Hamlin refused to pit and eventually blew the tire with ten laps to go.

At the time, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was cruising away with a lead of over one second, and instead of coming to pit road, Hamlin opted to stop on the race track -- bringing out a yellow. Of course, Hamlin being as tactful as ever, was able to immediately continue once the yellow flag waved.

NASCAR enforced a two lap penalty on Hamlin, but the damage was done. Earnhardt Jr.'s lead in the Dan Lowry 400 was gone.

On the ensuing restart, Earnhardt Jr. couldn't pull away from Busch with three laps to go, Busch got on the inside of the No. 88 in Turn 2. When the pair reached Turn 3 side-by-side, racing contact was made and Junior spun into the wall, with Clint Bowyer sneaking by both to take the lead and eventually the win.

To me, if Denny Hamlin doesn't show such low moral character by deliberately stopping on the race track with ten laps to go, the entire incident with Dale Earnhardt Jr. doesn't happen. Hamlin had more than enough opportunity to get to pit road and any words saying he didn't get a chance is nothing but pure hogwash.

Denny Hamlin showed his true colors Saturday night at Richmond, and his antics drastically affected the outcome of the race.

That, my friends, isn't right.

Latest NASCAR Photos

RICHMOND, VA - MAY 03: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, leads Elliott Sadler, driver of the #19 Stanley Dodge, and Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Pedigree Toyota, during a restart after a caution to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400 at Richmond International Raceway on May 3, 2008 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Getty Images

RICHMOND, VA - MAY 03: Clint Bowyer, driver of the #07 BB&T Chevrolet, gets into his car on the grid prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400 at Richmond International Raceway on May 3, 2008 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Getty Images

RICHMOND, VA - MAY 03: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet, races during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400 at Richmond International Raceway on May 3, 2008 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Getty Images

RICHMOND, VA - MAY 03: Carl Edwards, driver of the #99 Office Depot Ford, pits during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400 at Richmond International Raceway on May 3, 2008 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Getty Images

RICHMOND, VA - MAY 03: Clint Bowyer, driver of the #07 BB&T Chevrolet, burns out after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400 at Richmond International Raceway on May 3, 2008 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Getty Images

RICHMOND, VA - MAY 03: Mark Martin, driver of the #8 U.S. Army Chevrolet races side by side with Travis Kvapil, driver of the #28 Discount Tire Ford, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400 at Richmond International Raceway on May 3, 2008 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)

Getty Images

RICHMOND, VA - MAY 03: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, races during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400 at Richmond International Raceway on May 3, 2008 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Getty Images

RICHMOND, VA - MAY 03: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Pedigree Toyota, races side by side with Mark Martin, driver of the #8 U.S. Army Chevrolet during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400 at Richmond International Raceway on May 3, 2008 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)

Getty Images

RICHMOND, VA - MAY 03: Clint Bowyer, driver of the #07 BB&T Chevrolet, races side by side with Casey Mears, driver of the #5 Kellogg's/CARQUEST Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400 at Richmond International Raceway on May 3, 2008 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)

Getty Images