Exciting Finishes Part Of Martinsville's Attraction

Denny Hamlin grabbed another checkered flag at Martinsville.

Martinsville Speedway has been known for its riveting action for over 60 years, but the half-mile beauty out-did itself this spring in the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500.

Actually, the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 508. That’s right, the race was so exciting, it took 508 laps to get it finished.

There was plenty of solid racing up front with 24 “official” lead changes scored at the start-finish line and a record 34 lead changes under green. And there was the other type of action, also … 13 cautions for all sorts of beating, banging spinning and sliding.

Native Virginian Denny Hamlin wound up out front when the checkered flag flew, but he made his final pass for the lead on lap 507.

After a gamble to pit for four tires with 10 laps to go, Hamlin was faced with a daunting dash with just four laps to go: he needed to pass eight cars for the win.

Just after the green flew with four to go, he lowered the hammer and took his Toyota three-wide before moving into fourth. As the white flag was set to come out for the final lap, Hamlin got a reprieve when a caution was displayed for Kyle Busch’s spin.

On the final restart, the front three cars got together and Hamlin barreled his way into the lead for his second straight Martinsville win.

Hamlin was helped by the new multiple “green-white-checkered” rule instituted by NASCAR as well as the double file restarts. And that has made racing at Martinsville more exciting than ever; expect plenty of the same in the TUMS Fast Relief 500 on October 24.