Bob Pockrass
FOX Motorsports Insider
“Last week [at Martinsville] was great. We were able to win with a different setup, with something we worked on, came up with and have car speed, to get that out of the way.This one, I was surprised. We obviously just had the right scenario. You take those.”
Motorsports is all about catching and taking advantage of the breaks.
“You take all the ones that you can steal somehow, then if you get all the ones that you’re the strongest car, you’ll be in good shape,” Gayle said.
And Hamlin is in good shape. He is adding trophies and is also juicing up the drama for fans, playing the role of the heel in the sport. Boos reigned on him during driver introductions and as he got out of his car to celebrate the win.
“I love the fans,” Hamlin said. “They don’t really love me that much. Still, I think it’s just my personality. I understand that. I bring it upon myself most times. But I love it. I love the reaction that I get out of people.”
And he also loves that he’s one step closer to 60. Or 61.
“It still feels good from my standpoint that I can, at 44, go out here and win back-to-back races, be in contention week in, week out and still be at the top of my game,” Hamlin said. “Nothing’s dropped off.”
Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter@bobpockrass.
