Hamlin fends off Busch

Gibbs drivers finish 1-2 in Nationwide Series race

Denny Hamlin held off teammate Kyle Busch to win Friday night at Daytona International Speedway and extend Joe Gibbs Racing's dominance in the Nationwide Series at Daytona Beach, Fla.

Hamlin had a comfortable lead over Busch as they headed toward the white flag, but rookie Colin Braun spun to bring out just the third caution of the Winn-Dixie 250.

NASCAR reset the laps to create a two-lap sprint to the finish. Hamlin got a great jump on the restart and Busch couldn't challenge him as Hamlin drove to his third Nationwide Series win of the year.

"I've got to thank Kyle for sticking with me right there in the end," Hamlin said. "The only way we were going is if he actually went for the win."

Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished third, Clint Bowyer and Brad Keselowski. Kasey Kahne, Scott Wimmer, David Stremme, David Ragan and Mike Bliss rounded out the top 10.

DEI STARTS OUT FRONT TODAY: Although Dale Earnhardt Inc. might not be a championship contender, it showed Friday it still can be a force at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla.

DEI swept the front row in qualifying for tonight's Coke Zero 400 and ended up with three drivers in the top eight positions.

Paul Menard won the pole when he covered the 2 1/2-mile superspeedway with a fast lap of 185.916 mph, just ahead of teammate Mark Martin. Rookie Regan Smith was eighth.

DEI's other driver, Martin Truex Jr., was well back in 35th. He was driving a backup car after his primary car failed inspection Thursday and was seized.

Truex's setback -- he could be docked points for an illegal body modification -- combined with Martin's Friday announcement that he was moving to Hendrick Motorsports gave DEI a rough start to the weekend. But the team rebounded with its strongest qualifying effort of the season.

Hendrick Motorsports driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. qualified third, followed by Joe Nemechek and Johnny Sauter. Series points leader Kyle Busch was ninth.

MASSA HITS WALL: Formula One points leader Felipe Massa spun off the track and hit a wall during Friday's practice for the British Grand Prix, but only after setting the fastest time in his Ferrari at Silverstone, England.