Denny Hamlin

Yes, Clint Bowyer is from Kansas. And yes he is one of the friendliest drivers in the garage area. But if you think this a homer pick, think again. Other than Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin, you could argue that Clint Bowyer was the hottest driver in the Chase last season. He won two races and if it wasn't for a penalty after his first win in New Hampshire, who knows what this team could have done. Clint has always shown an amazing amount of poise and consistency, probably a result of being teammate of Jeff Burton, and a lot of competitive spirit, something more like his teammate Kevin Harvick.

Denny Hamlin won at Texas for the second time this season to take over the lead in the closest three-way Chase for the Sprint Cup yet with two races left. Hamlin moved in front with 29 laps to go, then got a push from Matt Kenseth on the final restart with three laps to go Sunday. Kenseth pushed ahead momentarily before Hamlin got right back in front and went on to his series-best eighth victory of the season. Emporia Native Clint Bowyer finished seventh at the race. His #33 car finished just over 300 laps of the race, but still hangs back 367 points of the Sprint Cup lead.

Denny Hamlin passed Kevin Harvick for the lead with 29 laps to go Sunday and won his third consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Martinsville Speedway. Hamlin became the first driver since Jimmie Johnson to sweep both races on the smallest track in NASCAR's premier series, and both he and Harvick closed the gap on Johnson in the points race with four races remaining. Hamlin trails by just six points, Harvick by 62. Harvick finished third after Mark Martin passed him in the closing laps, but Harvick still had his best showing in 19 career starts at the track.