Hamlin wins the NCWTS Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway

Denny Hamlin passed Austin Dillon and Ron Hornaday Jr. with 14 laps to go and won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday.

[media-credit name=”Barry Albert” align=”alignright” width=”243″][/media-credit]Dillon’s car slid up the track coming out of the second turn on the final restart and Hamlin was able to get around Hornaday and Dillion to win his first NCTWS race in 12 starts in the No 18 Traxxas Toyota for Kyle Busch.

“It was great. Those guys, I know they were battling for the championship, so I didn’t want to put them in three -wide at any point, but it was just a gift right there into turns one and two.” Hamlin said.  “I have to thank Kyle (Busch) for letting me drive this truck. This is something that really means a lot to me to get my very first Truck Series victory.”

“We gave it to him. I just didn’t make the first turn and I ran into Ron. If I hadn’t done that it would have been one of us in victory lane. I’ve just got to figure out how to make that first turn better on restarts.” Dillion said.

Hornaday finished second, Dillon third, Johnny Sauter fourth and Joey Coulter finished fifth. James Buescher finished 10th and Dillion now holds a 11 point lead over Buescher in the series standings with two races remaining. Hornaday is 15 points out.

“It was a great day … a pretty cool day for us. Austin raced me pretty hard at the end. I don’t know how Denny snuck through us and stole the win.” Hornaday said.