Hamlin wins in Loudon to break Gibbs drought

Denny Hamlin has ended his and Joe Gibbs Racing’s 2017 winless streak with a classy drive to win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Hamlin led 54 of 301 laps to take the chequered flag of the Overton’s 301 with a fast-finishing Kyle Larson keeping him honest over the closing stages.

Hamlin also ended a 28-race winless streak dating back to last September at Richmond Raceway.

“I was doing everything I could to pace,” said Hamlin.

“I knew he (Larson) had a really fast car. The backup car put us behind the eight-ball, but it’s impressive to win a race like this.”

Larson’s efforts can’t be underplayed as he started last in the 39-car field. He was on pole, but his car failed post-qualifying inspection for an unapproved part.

After winning Stage 1, Martin Truex Jr. led a race-high 137 laps from pole, but was shuffled back to a third-place finish. He avoided major trouble when he punctured a right-front tyre just when the final pit window came open.

Matt Kenseth and Kevin Harvick rounded out the top five.

Kyle Busch led twice for 95 laps and prevailed in Stage 2, but was dropped back in the running order by two separate pit road speeding penalties. He came home in 12th.

Aric Almirola finished 24th — last car on the lead lap — in his first event since breaking his back in a May 13 crash at Kansas Speedway.

The race was briefly red-flagged during the first stage intermission for parts of the track surface breaking up in Turns 3 and 4.

Although the race did not have any major crashes, the notable incident occurred to Joey Logano who broke the rear-end of his car.

Team Penske confirmed a broken track bar, but NASCAR officials also confiscated the truck arm to inspect during the week. He remains winless so far in 2017.

NASCAR next goes racing this coming weekend for the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis.

VIDEO: Race recap

VIDEO: Hamlin speaks after the race

RESULTS:  Overton’s 301 – New Hampshire Motor Speedway

STANDINGS