Hamlin Rallies For Fourth Win Of Season [VIDEO]

A big win in Atlanta Sunday night for Denny Hamlin. His fourth win of the season will mean at least a tie for the lead heading into the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship after next week’s race at Richmond. Hamlin held off Jeff Gordon on a green, white, checkered finish to win for the second week in a row and at the same time putting a real dent in Gordon’s hopes of making the field for Chase. Gordon came close on the final lap, almost squeezing by on the outside, but Hamlin held him off.

So, in all likelihood Gordon will have to win at Richmond to clinch a wildcard spot or make up 12 points on the guy ahead of him in the standings – Kyle Busch – and that’ll be a tough thing to do.

Ten drivers have locked up slots in the Chase and it looks like Kasey Kahne with two wins this season will clinch one of the wildcard spots. So that leaves, Gordon and Kyle Busch along with three other drivers – Marcos Ambrose, Joey Logano and Ryan Newman to battle it out for the final spot.

What a huge disappointment for Martin Truex, Jr. He was cruising along with as much as a 3 second lead with the final laps winding down and headed for what looked like his first win since 2007. Then Jamie McMurray brought out a caution when he smashed into a wall with just three laps to go. Truex spun his tires on the restart while Hamlin sped away with Gordon right on his bumper.

Brad Keselowski came in third while Truex finished fourth.

Tony Stewart found out over the weekend his company is losing two major sponsors. Office Depot says it’s pulling out of sponsorship of Stewart’s Number 14 car and the U-S Army is dropping sponsorship of Ryan Newman’s Number 39 at the end of the season. So that’s two big holes that Stewart will have to fill for next year.