Originally published Saturday, May 3, 2008 at 12:00 AM

Auto racing | Denny Hamlin prevails at home

Local favorite Denny Hamlin used a late pit stop for tires to foil the strategy of fellow NASCAR standouts Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards...

By The Associated Press

Latest NASCAR results

RICHMOND, Va. — Local favorite Denny Hamlin used a late pit stop for tires to foil the strategy of fellow NASCAR standouts Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards, blowing by them to win the Nationwide Series race at Richmond International Raceway on Friday night.

Harvick and Edwards dominated the race, but when the sixth caution flew with 22 laps to go, Hamlin gave up his fourth-place position to head to pit road for tires.

When everyone behind him followed, leaving Harvick, Edwards and No. 3 Mike Bliss as the only cars still out on the track, Hamlin emerged still running fourth and with new traction.

He didn't waste time, blowing by Bliss and Edwards on Lap 241, the first after another restart, and ducking underneath Harvick at the start-finish line on Lap 242 of the Lipton Tea 250.

Hamlin quickly built a lead, but when another caution came out with three laps left, it allowed Kyle Busch to get up on Hamlin's bumper for a two-lap dash to the finish.

It didn't matter, and the resident of nearby Chesterfield, Va., pulled away with ease for his sixth career victory in the series and his first at the track 15 miles from his house.

"This is my biggest win by far," he said.

Notes

• Kasey Kahne of Enumclaw was 14th, and Derrike Cope of Spanaway was 33rd of 43.

• Hamlin earned the pole for tonight's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at the track, the Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400, with a fast lap of 126.198 mph. He said winning the pole at his home track was like winning a race elsewhere.

Kahne qualified in ninth and Greg Biffle of Vancouver, Wash., qualified in 23rd.

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