Denny Hamlin finally got it.
After three top 10 finishes at races at Richmond International Raceway and 97 career NASCAR Nationwide Series appearances, the 27-year-old Chesterfield native finally won a NASCAR race in front of the home team crowd at Richmond.
After a quick caution, Denny Hamlin's No. 20 Z-Line Designs Toyota Camry took off like a rocket after the green flag dropped with three laps to go. He quickly pulled two car lengths ahead of the pack and kept on truckin' from there to win the NASCAR Nationwide Series Lipton Tea 250.
Besides being his first ever win at RIR, this was his first Nationwide Series win this year and the sixth in his career.
"It's unbelievable that we were able to get this done in my home state," Hamlin said with a beaming smile on his face. "This is my biggest win in Cup or anything. It doesn't matter. This is my biggest win by far. It means a lot to finally break through in Richmond."
Though Hamlin took the win tonight, this is actually the third straight Nationwide win for the No. 20 Z-Line team, each with a different driver.
Kevin Harvick (No. 33 Rheem Chevrolet), who traditionally has done very well at RIR, pulled to the line just behind Hamlin to grasp a second place finish tonight. This was his 11th top 10 finish in 15 races at Richmond.
Third place went to Kyle Busch (No. 32 Hass Avocados From Mexico Toyota Camry), though he almost tasted concrete in the last lap. After receiving a little bumper love on the inside from Steve Wallace (No. 66 Atreus Homes & Communities) on the last lap, Busch got loose but saved his car and was able to maintain his composure and momentum.
Then the real fight for position happened.
Immediately after the race, as Hamlin smoked his tires for the crowd during his victory lap, Busch jumped out of his car on pit road to have a few words with Wallace, who was still in his car in the pits. As the jawboning started, Wallace grabbed Busch's helmet and pulled his head towards the car. But as soon as it began, the minor physical scuffle was over.