Hamlin, Sadler Rise From the Ashes With Wins at PIR

It is no secret that Phoenix International Raceway is a place where many a winless streak has been broken, hence its name being very fitting to those looking to rise from the ashes of tattered pasts. This weekend was no exception as Elliott Sadler and Denny Hamlin took home the hardware in Saturday and Sunday’s races in “The Valley of The Sun.”

In his first Nationwide Series win since visiting Victory Lane at Rockingham in October 1998, Elliott Sadler held off a hard-charging Brad Keselowski to win the Bashas’ Supermarkets 200. The Richard Childress Racing driver essentially ended his championship hopes last November after being in a late-race crash, something he can put behind him now that he’s captured that elusive first win with his new team (Kevin Harvick, Inc. closed shop after the 2011 season and its operations were moved to RCR).

Another driver looking for redemption at PIR was Denny Hamlin. After a disappointing finish there in 2010, Hamlin’s Sprint Cup Series title chances were dashed, causing him to lose the Sprint Cup by only 39 points to eventual champion Jimmie Johnson. Hamlin, looking for a new start after a dismal 2011, teamed up with defending championship crew chief Darian Grubb; they started the season with a fourth-place finish in the Daytona 500.

The #11 team was able to improve on last week’s impressive start by winning Sunday’s Subway Fresh Fit 500, just their second race with its fearless new leader.  Hamlin ran up front all day and led the final 58 laps en route to his 18^th career Sprint Cup Series victory. After leading the most laps in the race, Kevin Harvick finished second, despite running out of fuel coming to the white flag.  Greg Biffle, Jimmie Johnson, and Brad Keselowski rounded out the top five. Hamlin leads Biffle in the point standings by six going into this weekend’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

So who gets the checkers and who ends up with wreckers this week? There were a lot of contenders for each, but I can only choose one, so here it goes:

Checkers: Without a doubt, this goes to Darian Grubb. After being released from Stewart Haas Racing at the end of the 2011 season, he made the move to Joe Gibbs Racing and the #11 team of Denny Hamlin. Sunday’s win is Grubb’s sixth in the past twelve races, not to mention with two different drivers. I expect a big year from him and his new team.

Wreckers: It was a rough weekend for Grubb’s former boss, Tony Stewart. After having mechanical issues associated with trying to save fuel, Stewart finished two-laps down in 22^nd, just one spot behind his teammate Ryan Newman. Newman backed his #39 Chevy into the wall after contact with Carl Edwards late in the race. After wrecking his primary car in Friday’s practice and crashing the backup on Sunday, the SHR body shop, and Stewart’s checkbook, will be working overtime this week.

Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR

Denny Hamlin celebrates his first victory and seventh top-10 finish in 14 races on Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway. He is the seventh consecutive different winner at the Avondale, Ariz. facility.