Kevin Hamlin
No. 4 Open Joist Dodge Race Recap
Sam’s Las Vegas 350
Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Kevin Hamlin and crew battled a “dancing” truck this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. After a promising practice session and qualifying effort the race didn’t go as planned for the Open Joist Dodge Crew. Intense traffic proved to be a partner the No. 4 Open Joist Dodge wasn’t willing to dance with. Crew Chief Marcus Richmond made several track bar and wedge adjustments throughout the night, but wasn’t able to calm down the intense loose condition. Hamlin finished in the 17th position.

The No. 4 Open Joist Dodge Las Vegas Race Recap

Hamlin posted the 12th fastest practice time Saturday morning and backed that up by qualifying 12th that afternoon.

“It is tight to start out,” said Hamlin on lap 23 while running 19th.

The first of eight cautions waved on lap 33 for an accident in turn two. Hamlin came down pit road to the attention of the Open Joist Racing Team. They changed four tires, added fuel, went up two rounds on the track bar and pulled a wedge out of the left rear in an attempt to help the tight condition. He restarted in the 23rd position.

By lap 40 Hamlin had moved into the 22nd position. Ten laps later he had worked his way passed four more trucks and driven the Open Joist Dodge to the 18th spot.

On lap 69, while running 19th, Hamlin radioed in, “It feels very unstable.” Crew Chief Marcus Richmond told Hamlin to stay calm and he would fix it under the next caution.

Unfortunately, Hamlin went down one lap to the leader just before the fourth caution waved on lap 86. The Open Joist Racing Team went to work once again changing four tires, adding fuel and going back down two rounds on the track bar. He restarted in the 20th position.

The fifth caution waved only four laps after the restart for a spin on the frontstretch. The quick caution allowed Hamlin to receive the lucky dog award and return to the lead lap.
“Roll out of the throttle more and use less brake,” coached Richmond just before the restart where Hamlin was in the 19th position.

 By lap 110 Hamlin had moved up one spot into 18th. “It is just dancing around,” said Hamlin.

The final caution waved on lap 136 for an accident in turn three. Richmond made the decision to bring Hamlin down pit road for another round of adjustments. After four tires, two cans of fuel and another round of track bar adjustments Hamlin returned to the track in 18th position.

The adjustments proved to be the right ones in the openings laps after the restart. “This is the best it has been all night,” said Hamlin.

Despite the early struggles he finished the event in 17th position.

Travis Kvapil won the The Las Vegas 350 before an estimated crowd of 45,000. Johnny Benson, Jon Wood, TerryCook and Erik Darnell rounded out the top five finishers. The next event for the NCTS will be at Talladega Speedway.