Hamlin Outduels Busch For Daytona Nationwide Win

Daytona Beach, FL (AHN) - Denny Hamlin, wheeling the magical No. 20 Toyota of JGR, kept his ride out front and fended off Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch to win Friday night's Winn-Dixie 250 Powered By Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway.

It was the ninth win of the season for the No. 20 Nationwide car, which has found Victory Lane with four different drivers this season.

"It was amazing, my final ride in the 20 car. These guys were here in the inception when I got signed to this car,'' said Hamlin. "I got to thank Kyle for sticking with me right there at the end. The only way we weren't going to win was if he went for the win and he stuck with me.''

Hamlin helped the 20 car sweep the three Nationwide restrictor-plate races this season - Tony Stewart won the other two in the car and also captured the win last week at New Hampshire.

The win wouldn't have happened if Busch hadn't been a teammate again. In February Stewart gave Busch all of the credit for pushing him to the Nationwide win here in the 20 car and on Friday night it was Busch who stayed in line, helped Hamlin to the win and settled for runner-up honors.

"The green-white checker made it a little more exciting for the fans, but I knew there was going to be much there as far as getting around that 20 car,'' said Busch. "Congratulations to the 20 team, obviously that's three straight for that car. That restrictor-plate car is pretty strong. All's well finishing second.''

Busch took runner-up honors for the second time in a row in as many visits here while Dale Earnhardt Jr., wheeling the No. 5 Chevrolet of JR Motorsports, settled for third.

Bowyer, the points leader, appeared to be intimating that the Toyotas currently have too much of an advantage in the series.

Three Chevrolets finished in the top-five, including the two Chevrolets of JR Motorsports.