All Jimmie Johnson ever wanted was a chance to race with the best in NASCAR. Maybe even win a race or two. Never did he expect to be a champion. Especially four times over.

AVONDALE, Ariz. Brad Keselowski’s crew chief was headed to the prerace driver meeting when Juan Pablo Montoya cut him off at the door. “The next two weeks, you better bring your worst cars,“ Montoya told Roy McCauley. “Why’s that?“ McCauley asked. “Because they are going to get wrecked,“ Montoya warned. “Somebody is going to wreck him, if Denny Hamlin doesn’t do it first.“

MARTINSVILLE Denny Hamlin is learning to relish making the best of things after the end of his championship bid, and trying to set himself up to be somebody next year. Coming off consecutive back-of-the-pack finishes—with contending cars, no less—that took him out of title contention, Hamli, a former Chesterfield resident, made the most of another good car at Martinsville Speedway, passing Jimmie Johnson and leading the last 138 laps to win Sunday.

Denny Hamlin passes Jimmie Johnson, ending the three-time defending series champion’s run of five trips to victory lane in the previous six races at the shortest circuit in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. Forgive Denny Hamlin if he’s a bit frustrated these days. He thought he had a chance this year to win his first NASCAR championship. Instead, he’s facing five final weeks of simply trying to salvage his season. Back-to-back bad weeks have taken the former Chesterfield resident out of contention in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. He’s currently 11th in the standings, 372 points behind leader Jimmie Johnson, and his ranking hardly reflects how well he’s been running.

Denny Hamlin is over last week’s debacle at Auto Club Speedway. He just wishes everybody else was, too. Hamlin likely saw his bid for his first NASCAR title evaporate with 60 laps to go when the pole-sitter mistakenly tried to cut off a hard-charging Juan Pablo Montoya on a double-file restart. He didn’t have enough room, and his No. 11 Toyota ended up spinning into the pit road barrier.

1. Denny Hamlin: So can the former Chesterfield resident turn a pole-winning effort Friday into a much-needed race victory Sunday? Hamlin backed up his top spot in qualifying by posting a practice lap of 179.252 in Happy Hour on Saturday, good for third.

KANSAS CITY, Kan.—The feud between Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski is not over. Far from it. The tension started at last weekend’s Nationwide race at Dover, where Hamlin’s day ended after contact with Keselowski caused him to crash. The former Chesterfield resident confronted Keselowski after the race on pit road, and the two had to be separated after a brief scuffle.

DOVER, Del.—Denny Hamlin’s day appeared over. His No. 20 Toyota was in the garage after Brad Keselowski spun him into the wall late in the Nationwide Series race. Not so fast. An angry Hamlin returned to pit road at the end of the Nationwide Series Dover 200 and welcomed Keselowski with a forceful shove and a heated exchange. Keselowski’s public relations rep shoved Hamlin, and crews for both drivers quickly got involved in the brief skirmish.

Mark Martin held off Denny Hamlin and Juan Pablo Montoya on a late frantic restart to win the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship opener at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. It was Martin’s series-best fifth victory of the season and spoiled what could have been a blockbuster day for Montoya. Making his 100th career start on his 34th birthday, Montoya won the pole in record-breaking speed and led every practice session while setting the stage for just his second career Sprint Cup Series victory.

NEW YORK—Three-time defending NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson’s whirlwind day came to a close when four Knicks City Dancers presented him with a cake to celebrate his 34th birthday. In between, there was a pie-throwing contest at “Live! with Regis and Kelly,“ fashion advice from Brian Vickers to Kurt Busch, and Ryan Newman’s attempt to toss popcorn across a room and into someone’s open mouth.

Who’s the favorite this year in the NASCAR title race? Only one driver, Tony Stewart, has won the regular-season and the championship since the playoff system began five years ago.

Denny Hamlin jumped out of his car, removed his helmet, pumped his fists a few times and made a beeline across the track to pick up the checkered flag. After jogging back to his car, which he left parked at the bottom of the track, Hamlin climbed back in and did a burnout in front of adoring fans. Finally, after so many hometown heartaches at Richmond International Raceway, Hamlin could crow.

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.

All week long, Denny Hamlin said it was time. He said a driver can’t lead as many laps as he has at Richmond International Raceway and not win the race. All week long, Hamlin talked the talk. Last night, he walked the walk. Last night, he drove the car. Last night, Hamlin won the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway.