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Hamlin 21st at Dover, ready for Bailey's 300
September 24th, 2008 - Concord, NC
Source: KevinHamlin.com
On the strength of a top 25 finish a few weeks earlier in the Nationwide Series race at California, Kevin Hamlin was called on again to fill in for the #81 MacDonald Motorsports Dodge at Dover. And once again, Hamlin delivered. After starting 34th in the Camping World RV Sales 200, Hamlin avoided the jaws of the Monster Mile and brought the Vector Security Dodge home 21st. |
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The team's regular driver, D.J. Kennington, had to miss the Dover race because of a prior commitment in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and Hamlin was more then willing to help out.
"It’s been since 2005 since I’ve been at Dover, but I was really happy with how the race went," Hamlin said. "We were really tight all day, and something wasn’t quite right in the right front corner of the car. I think we had a dead shock or something, but we drug the sway bar tube off the car because we were hitting so hard getting into the corners."
Hamlin hasn't had many chances to race this season, and he was grateful for the opportunity to drive the #81 Dodge.
"Matt, Randy and the guys are a lot of fun to work with, and they did a heck of a job all weekend. Our goal was a top 20, and we just missed it, but I’m still pleased with the result and hopefully I’ll get a chance to represent Vector Security and Mahindra Tractors again soon."
With Dover in the books, Hamlin has now turned his attention to this weekend's Bailey's 300 latemodel race at Martinsville Speedway. He will be driving the #13 Dodge for Sommer Motorsports, owned by friend and fellow Ganassi employee Cody Sommer. Besides driving it, Hamlin has helped get the car ready to race.
"It’s been a lot of fun to build this Marlowe Chassis from the ground up with Cody and the guys," Hamlin said. These cars are a bit different than the NASCAR Northwest Tour cars I ran back home, but the chassis is basically like a Nationwide car, so it’s been cool to do this."
After their first race a few weekends ago at Caraway, the team was able to participate in an open test session last week at Martinsville to prepare for the race.
"The test last week was stressful, but good. The car was a ways off all day until right at the end, we found some things. The guys also got a lot of front-end stuff scienced out when I was at the Nationwide race in Dover over the weekend, which will help quite a bit too. We’ve just got to have a good enough car to qualify in the top 22 so we don’t have to worry about the last chance races. The test was tight, it’ll be a feat in itself to make the show."
There won't be a lack of competition at Martinsville for Kevin and the team, as over 100 cars are expected to attempt to qualify for the race including last year's winner, NASCAR veteran Dennis Setzer. And to be one of those 100 cars on the entry list, it's taken some late nights and a lot of help from some old friends.
"We wouldn’t be able to test and race Martinsville if it weren’t for help from a lot of manufacturers on the car, and from Brendan Gaughan. He’s helped me so much through out my career with different races, I don’t know how I could repay him other than giving him a good run this weekend."
The green flag drops on the Bailey's 300 on Sunday afternoon at 3PM EST. Check back on Monday to find out how Kevin and the Sommer Motorsports Dodge made out.
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