Hamlin Wins Sprint Unlimited

The fan voted Sprint Unlimited signaled the official start of the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season and the 18 drivers definitely put on a show. Lining up by final practice speeds, Denny Hamlin and Jamie McMurray led the field to the green flag with 2013 Champion Jimmie Johnson starting last.

A quiet first segment of 30 laps started off the Sprint Unlimited. Danica Patrick, who started 12th, was in danger of losing the draft early in the race but quickly made it as high as 3rd with the help of Hamlin and Johnson. McMurray led much of the first segment until he was forced to drop back. An early trip to pit road because of an over heated engine left him a lap down with just a handful of laps to go.

The first segment ended with a bang when the No.48 of Jimmie Johnson got loose and spun, hitting the inner wall safer barrier and ending his race. Teams hit pit road between segment one and two with some teams opting for gas only and others changing tires. Patrick served a penalty when her gasman left pit wall early.

Segment two started off quietly but just a few laps in, carnage piled up. Brad Keselowski slowed and Kenseth made a move to the lower lane and lost control, taking out seven cars including Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Danica Patrick, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Jeff Gordon, and Carl Edwards. NASCAR threw the red flag to clean up debris and allowed teams to make repairs on the cars under red. When the red flag was lifted, nine drivers remained on the track with fifteen laps to go in segment two. Hamlin dominated the final laps and was P1 when the caution flag flew.

Fans voted for a mandatory two-tire pit stop to start the third segment. Hamlin won the race off of pit road followed by Keselowski, Kyle Busch, McMurray, Ambrose, Logano, Earnhardt Jr., Ryan Newman and Kevin Harvick. Penalties leave Keselowski and Busch on pit road for a second time and starting at the back of the nine-car pack.

A fire in the pace car delayed the start of the final segment that left Brett Bodine bailing from the blue Chevy.

Hamlin leads the tiny field to green but McMurray and Earnhardt teaming up, Hamlin quickly fades and Chevrolets take the lead. A spin by Kyle Busch caused a caution as he tried to make a move to the bottom sending him spinning through the grass. The race restarted with 12 laps to go with Earnhardt at the point but Logano quickly took the lead. Ten laps to go saw Earnhardt and Ambrose into the wall, which meant a 5-lap shootout with just a handful of cars left in racing condition when the green flag waved. Penske teammates Keselowski and Logano led the pack with No.2 jumping out front and taking the lead. Two laps to go and Busch and Hamlin challenge for the lead with Hamlin taking the white flag and pulling away.

A wreck fest of a Sprint Unlimited under a full moon saw Denny Hamlin take the checkered flag to kick off the start of the 2014 season. With just eight cars finishing the race, this may have just been the strangest race NASCAR has seen in quite a while.  

Final Standings:
P1: Denny Hamlin
P2: Brad Keselowski
P3: Kyle Busch
P4: Joey Logano
P5: Kevin Harvick
P6: Jamie McMurray
P7: Marcos Ambrose
P8: Ryan Newman
P9: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
P10: Matt Kenseth
P11: Tony Stewart
P12: Jeff Gordon
P13: Carl Edwards
P14: Kurt Busch
P15: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
P16: Danica Patrick
P17: Jimmie Johnson
P18: Terry Labonte