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Hamlin wins Busch RoadLoans.com 200 at Dover

Sep 22, 2007 - 10:33 PM DOVER, Delaware (Ticker) -- Denny Hamlin passed Martin Truex Jr. with 15 laps remaining en route to winning the NASCAR Busch Series RoadLoans.com 200 on Saturday at Dover International Speedway.

Hamlin opted to take four new tires during the final round of pit stops with 30 laps remaining, and the gamble paid off as he was able to make up his lost track position and get past Truex to win his third Busch race of the season and fifth in 88 career starts.

Hamlin was able to finish the race in his Chevrolet Monte Carlo and earn the win despite suffering from flu-like symptoms.

"I felt a lot better early than I did late," Hamlin said. "But when the car is handling as well as it was, you dig down deep and find something in you (to finish the race)."

The second-place finish was the highest of the season for Truex, who gambled and stayed on the track with older tires on his Chevrolet.

"We pinched down on (Hamlin) a little bit - we knew it was our only shot," Truex said. "I just wish the other guys behind us could have held Denny up a little more."

Matt Kenseth was third in a Ford Fusion, followed by the Dodge Chargers of Mike Bliss and Reed Sorenson.

Series leader Carl Edwards, who was sixth in a Ford, increased his lead in the standings to 754 points over David Reutimann. Reutimann finished 10th in a Toyota Camry.

Pole-sitter Greg Biffle had a tire issue with his Ford during the early stages of the race and fell two laps down before rallying to finish ninth.