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Hamlin Holds Off Bowyer In Kansas

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The Associated Press

Published: September 28, 2008

KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Denny Hamlin's pit crew gave him the lead, rushing him out just ahead of Kevin Harvick near the race's halfway point.

Once out in front, Hamlin knew he'd be tough to catch. His car was just too good, especially in a restrictor-plate race.

Hamlin used a fast pit stop to get the lead and lost it only briefly during the final half of the race, holding off Nationwide Series points leader Clint Bowyer to win the Kansas Lottery 300 on Saturday.

"With restrictor plates on these cars, it's hard for anyone to get a run on you," Hamlin said. "I had a heck of a time getting around the 64 David Stremme, which was a lap down. It's tough. I knew once I got in front of Harvick, he was going to have to be significantly faster than I was."

Hamlin started 19th and gradually worked through the field, moving in behind Harvick, the polesitter, for second. Hamlin got out of the pits faster than Harvick after Bobby Hillin Jr. spun out on the 93rd lap and led 99 of the final 107 laps en route to his fourth Nationwide victory of the year and ninth overall.

Bowyer started 17th and worked his way toward the front, moving in behind the leader with just more than 30 laps left. Though he never could catch Hamlin, Bowyer still increased his series lead to 196 points against Carl Edwards, who finished fourth.

FORMULA ONE: Ferrari's Felipe Massa edged Lewis Hamilton of McLaren in qualifying, taking the pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix.

With Hamilton sitting on the provisional pole in the dying seconds of qualifying, Massa put in a stunning final lap, setting a time nearly 0.6 seconds faster than the Briton.

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen will start third.

NHRA: At Millington, Tenn., Brandon Bernstein held on to the top spot in Top Fuel qualifying in the O'Reilly NHRA Mid-South Nationals.
Ashley Force (Funny Car), Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) and Chip Ellis (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also stayed at the top of their fields at Memphis Motorsports Park.

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