RICHMOND, Va. _ Denny Hamlin won Saturday's Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway as the drama of who would make up NASCAR's Chase field unfolded behind him.
Hamlin's victory in a green-white-checker finish was his third of the season, edging a hard-charging Kyle Larson on the 405th of a scheduled 400 laps.
Hamlin was one of 12 drivers who had already clinched a spot in the Chase. Rookie Chris Buescher, who needed to maintain his spot in the top 30 in points to make the Chase, did just that by finishing 24th. Jamie McMurray grabbed the 16th and final spot with a sixth-place finish. Rookie Chase Elliott and Austin Dillon needed solid finishes to stay inside the top 16 and made the Chase on points.
The race was marked by a track-record 16 cautions. It came down to tire strategy, as most teams used up their allotment of 10 sets of Goodyears well before the race reached its final stages. Larson, who pitted for new tires during the final caution, was 12th on the restart and roared through the field to nearly catch Hamlin.
Tempers also flared, especially when Tony Stewart wrecked Ryan Newman (his former teammate at Stewart-Haas Racing) on Lap 364.
Newman entered the race 22 points out of the 16th spot in the Chase standings. He needed to either win or make up those 22 points on McMurray to make the postseason.
