Hamlin’s RIR triumph: a taste of things to come?

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.

The No. 11 car rarely has been driven better. The No. 11 car rarely has run so well and so strong for so long.

Hamlin had the best car in the field. Jeff Gordon challenged Hamlin in the first half of the race. In the final 100 laps, Mark Martin, another Hendricks Motorsports driver, then Kurt Busch gave chase.

But there was no catching Hamlin. He drove as if he were all alone, as if the grooves in the track had been carved only for him.

He grew up in Richmond, attending races at RIR. Last night, he looked as if he had the home track advantage.

"This is my house," Hamlin said. "It has been the last two years. We just haven't got the win to show it. Finally today, we showed we're championship contenders."

Hamlin had a similar day in Martinsville, another short track, in the spring. Late in the race, Jimmie Johnson snuck past him and Hamlin had to settle for second.

Only one finishing spot was on his mind last night. He had no plans to settle for anything other than first, and he revealed that plan early in the race.

He started third and moved into the lead on Lap 4.

Hamlin came into the race assured of a spot in the coveted Chase for the Sprint Cup series title. Because of that, he felt no pressure, and it showed, not just last night, but all week long.

Friday, he all but gave the other drivers in the field a warning. He was here to win.

As the cars ran lap after lap, it was apparent that the night belonged to Hamlin, barring a catastrophe.

Then, on lap 382, a caution flag came out. And visions of Martinsville began to appear.

Hamlin's thought?

"Try not to choke," he said in victory lane. "The car was so good. We had the most dominant car all day. We kept adjusting it, and we got it the best at the end."

As the night wore on, Hamlin's car not only got stronger on the track, it was stronger coming off pit road. Early in the race, Gordon grabbed first place by a nose coming out of the pits during a caution.

When a caution came out on lap 279, the cars came in. When the cars came out, Hamlin roared away with several car lengths to spare on Gordon.

Hamlin was full of confidence coming into Richmond. That confidence only will increase as he goes into the final 10 races of the season.

Hamlin is intent on winning a points title. He is an outstanding driver, and wants to add a season's championship to his résumé. No one should doubt what he is capable of accomplishing.

Hamlin goes into the Chase in fourth place with 5,020 points, just 20 behind Mark Martin, who holds first with 5,040.

But Hamlin is rolling. He's been in the Chase in each of his four seasons, but he has never gone in with this type of momentum or this much confidence.

The first two races, at Loudon in New Hampshire and Dover in Delaware, will be crucial for Hamlin. He hasn't always started well in the Chase, and he knows it.

But he also knows that he and his team are moving in the right direction.

If he survives the first two races of the Chase in decent shape, Hamlin believes he and his team have a chance to make a lot of noise in the next eight races.

"I told these guys they better watch out for us," Hamlin said of the rest of the drivers in the Chase. "Now we're for real."

Last night was proof of that.

Contact Paul Woody at (804) 649-6444 .