Hamlin Scores Win in SRX Season Opener at Stafford

Denny Hamlin became the third driver to win in his first Camping World SRX Series start Thursday night, taking the win in a season opener at Stafford Motor Speedway shortened by inclement weather.

In what proved to be an unfortunately much too literal return of ESPN’s Thursday Night Thunder, Hamlin took the lead from 2022 SRX champion Marco Andretti on lap 12 and led the rest of the way in the main event. The checkered flag flew after 58 laps with a thunderstorm closing in on Stafford Motor Speedway, dampening post-race festivities.

“It was a bunch of fun. I’ve just got to thank Don Hawk and Tony Stewart and those guys for letting me run,” said Hamlin during his post-race interview on ESPN. “Being able to run a short track race with no spotter or anything, obviously it was a lot of fun, but it put a lot of pressure on us.”

Ryan Newman finished second with Clint Bowyer coming home third. Paul Tracy and Andretti rounded out the top five. With Hamlin being one of the four part-time drivers in the field for Thursday’s race, Newman unofficially leaves Stafford with the points lead.

Tony Stewart’s SRX season got off to a sour start, completing just 17 laps before reporting to the pits with a fuel pressure issue. Kevin Harvick’s main event ended after just seven laps, as he was collected in a multi-car incident in turn four. The accident began with contact between Brad Keselowski and Ryan Newman and collected nearly half of the 12-car field, but everyone was able to continue except for Harvick.

Hamlin took the win in the first heat race of the evening, which concluded after just 10 laps due to the 12-minute time limit. Paul Tracy finished second, with Marco Andretti third. Hamlin had started sixth in the heat, the deepest any heat race winner had ever started in the field in SRX history.

Newman won the second heat race, finishing ahead of Clint Bowyer and Brad Keselowski. Like heat one, the second heat race ended early due to the time limit after just 14 laps.

Full results for the main event and both heat races can be viewed below.

The Camping World SRX Series returns to Stafford next Thursday, as the event originally scheduled to take place at Thunder Road Speedbowl has been relocated to Stafford due to a state of emergency in the state of Vermont following catastrophic flooding in the state.

-Images courtesy of Denny Hamlin on Twitter

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
Camping World SRX Series at Stafford Motor Speedway - July 13, 2023

Main Event

Heat One

Heat Two