At the 2.66 Mile Super Speedway, Denny Hamlin faced a very tough day. At this track, it’s not how good your are, but how lucky you are that counts.

Denny lost the draft early in the race after hanging back a little to far from the pack. Denny simply had plans to take it easy, hang in the back, and avoid the big wreck that usually happens at Talladega, commonly referred to as the “Big One”.

Denny soon went a lap down and would have to wait for the lucky dog position. After a round of green flag stops, Denny fell out of the lucky dog position. When the yellow came out Denny would not be in position for the lucky dog.

During the Yellow Flag pit stops Denny and his crew chief were arguing about whether should stay out, gain his lap back and wait for a yellow, or if Denny should stay a lap down, come pit and get the lucky dog later. Fortunately both calls would have worked out, Denny pitted stayed a lap down, and the next caution, he barely got the lucky dog position.

Denny raced hard from here on out, and with the help of his teammate Kyle Busch, they soared to the front. Unfortunately they wouldn’t be able to hold onto the top 2 spots and fell back.

During the final restart, Denny worked his way up to 7th. Veteran Mark Martin was pushing him and Jimmy Johnson and Jeff Gordon were on his sides. Mark Martin quit pushing Denny leaving him all on his own, Jimmy then violently threw the car down below Denny to get in front of Mark Martin. Denny was left with NO drafting help, luckily the caution that brought the race to a Checkered Flag finish, kept Denny from falling back any further.

Jimmie Johnson ended up finishing 7th, and Denny Hamlin finished 9th. It could have been much worse for Hamlin. Luckily he is only 14 points out from the lead now.

Learn more about Denny Hamlin. Stop by Hamlin Fans’s site where you can find a sneak preview of the JGR Show.