Denny Hamlin, a first-time winner in Richmond, has 10 top-10 finishes in his last 12 starts. NASCAR officials ushered Chevy Rock & Roll 400 winner Denny Hamlin out of the postrace news conference so fast Saturday night that they had to bring him back for an encore. “Thanks for kicking me out earlier,“ he said with a laugh, after other drivers involved in the Chase for the Sprint Cup were paraded into the media center.

Denny Hamlin continued to run up his laps-led meter at Richmond International Raceway in the early going last night. Hamlin, a former Chesterfield resident, started third. He passed Martin Truex Jr. on the first lap, then took the lead from pole-sitter Mark Martin on Lap 3. Hamlin was so dominant that he lapped Max Papis on Lap 31. Shortly after passing Papis, Hamlin opened a 1.31-second lead.

The focus was on the cars from Joe Gibbs Racing from the beginning at Richmond International Raceway last night. Former Chesterfield resident Denny Hamlin led almost from the beginning and won, his second victory of the season and his first home-track Sprint Cup triumph. Hamlin started in the third position. He passed Martin Truex Jr. on the first lap, then took the lead from pole-sitter Mark Martin on Lap 3.

Mark Martin admits he’d rather play it safe than risk a little slip when it comes to qualifying. But not yesterday. With a lot on the line, the 50-year-old Martin let it all hang out and captured the pole position for tonight’s Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway. Martin turned in a lap of 126.808 mph in qualifying. Starting beside him will be Martin Truex Jr. (126.731). Former Chesterfield resident Denny Hamlin (126.630) will start third, followed by Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne.