Hamlin overcomes issues to be the Top Toyota at Bristol

But the resolve of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing team enabled Hamlin to finish on the podium in Sunday’s Bass Pro Shops Night race. 

“Yeah, we had a great car,” Hamlin said. “We definitely got it a lot better there at the end and proud that we’re able to come back from two laps down and get a good finish out of it, but still a good overall day for our FedEx Express Camry. Just came up a little short.”

Hamlin took the lead from his teammate Carl Edwards on the first lap. He led eight circuits before Chase Elliott took the point on Lap 9. Although the race was delayed, then rescheduled after rain washed out the track on Saturday, Hamlin maintained fourth-place overnight. 

Things go from bad to worse

Hamlin ran in the top 10 for the first 309 laps on Sunday until he was busted for speeding on Lap 310. He was forced to the tail-end of the field when the race returned to green six laps later. 

The obstacles weren’t over for Hamlin. After restarting 23rd, the No. 11 car developed a loose wheel and was forced to pit on lap 330. Hamlin dropped to 25th, two laps off of the lead lap when he returned to the track. 

But that played into Hamlin’s favor with most of the wrecks occurring at the front of the field. Hamlin avoided a four-car incident when Kyle Busch wrecked in Turn 2 on Lap 358 and the 11-car melee on the next restart. Hamlin moved up to 16th on Lap 390 after the wrecks cleared. He was 12th when the drivers pitted during the eighth caution for debris. 

Making the call for track position

A two-tire call by crew chief Mike Wheeler enabled Hamlin to restart first on lap 423. 

“You’ve got to rebound from it,” Hamlin said. “The good thing is there was enough attrition and enough cautions that we were able to get our lap back and that was key for us.”

Hamlin held the point for just 11 laps until race winner Kevin Harvick regained the lead for the fourth and final time of the race. Still,  Hamlin was able to hold on  the No. 11 car held for third — his eighth top-five finish of the season.

“I feel pretty good about things to be honest with you,” said Hamlin, who remained seventh in the standings. “We hadn’t had a speeding penalty in probably five or six weeks and we hadn’t had a loose wheel maybe all year, so I mean those are small things. I sped. I knew I sped when I did it. 

“In the playoffs, I’m not going to be that aggressive, but out here trying to get a win – a win or nothing attitude in the regular season – that’s when I push it.”