NASCAR’s Denny Hamlin Crashes At The Same Track Dale Earnhardt Jr. Suffered A Concusion

Denny Hamlin didn't have to visit the infield care center after he steered his banged-up race car back to the garage area following a hard hit in testing at Kansas Speedway. But upon the recommendation of a Sprint Cup official, he did, all in the wake of two recent concussions suffered by NASCAR's most popular driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., the first of which occurred at the same 1.5-mile track.

Hamlin admitted to some dizziness after a hit early in Thursday's second day of testing at the resurfaced Kansas track, where his car clipped the Turn 1 wall at approximately 202 mph, shot down to the apron and turned back up into the wall after the driver over corrected. He was checked out at the care center after the accident, then told to come back again after an hour for reevaluation. After which he was cleared to participate in the remainder of the event weekend.

The crash ruined what was Hamlin's primary car for Sunday's Cup event, which begins the second half of a Chase in which the Joe Gibbs Racing driver stands 15 points behind leader Brad Keselowski. The vehicle was the same one that Hamlin used four weeks ago at New Hampshire, where he led 193 laps in a dominant victory. Now he turns to his backup, which was the car he raced in the Chase opener at Chicagoland, where he was running fourth until running out of fuel on the final lap and finishing 16th.

Meanwhile Kansas native Clint Bowyer returns to his home state, and a win there would be dramatic. Just as dramatic was the win he just earned Saturday night in the backyard of most NASCAR teams at Charolotte, NC.

Bowyer says rolling into his hometown coming off a win is a good feeling. Having confidence, momentum and everything you get coming off a win to take along to your home for the next race is very special.

There are five races to go as Sunday takes us into the second half of the 'Chase To The Championship'.