honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, September 26, 2009

Auto racing: Bowyer wins Nationwide race at Dover


DAN GELSTON
AP Sports Writer

DOVER, Del. — Clint Bowyer raced to his second Nationwide Series victory of the season on Saturday, taking the lead with 83 laps to go on the concrete at Dover International Speedway.

His celebration was ignored as all attention turned to a brief, but heated, confrontation on pit road between Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski. They made contact late in the race, sending Hamlin to the garage. Keselowski finished third and was greeted when he got out of his car by an angry Hamlin.

They exchanged words, and Hamlin shoved Keselowski. Keselowski's public relations rep shoved Hamlin. The crews for both drivers got between the drivers. Keselowski crew chief Tony Eury Jr. ended it after a brief chat with Hamlin.

"I wanted to talk to him," Hamlin said. "He obviously needs some sort of guidance on what he needs to do to make it."

Keselowski blamed Hamlin for the accident.

"He cuts me off like he always does," Keselowski said. "He's Denny Hamlin."

Mike Bliss was second. Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards rounded out the top five.

Busch kept his overall lead in the points standings. He also became the second driver in the second-tier series to ever lead 2,000 laps in a season.

Bowyer was driving in only his ninth Nationwide race of the season.

"Dover is one of my best racetracks so it's probably fitting I was able to get in this car and race this race," he said.

Busch dominated the first 100 laps despite communication issues with his crew. He could hear instruction over the radio, but no one could hear what Busch was saying.