Hamlin was kept overnight for observation at a Birmingham, Ala., hospital after his car slammed into a wall. He was alert and awake when he was transported to the UAB Medical Center on Sunday, but was complaining of a headache and possibly had a concussion. He was also favoring his right foot after a slow exit from his crumpled car.

Hamlin, one of 12 drivers racing for the Sprint Cup title, was leading midway through the race when his right front tire failed and his Toyota shot into the outside wall. He said nothing over his in-car radio after the hit and took several moments to get out of the car.

Hamlin was 39th in the race and fell to 12th in the Chase standings.

ALLMENDINGER GETS RIDE FOR WEEKEND: AJ Allmendinger will drive the No. 00 Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing at Lowe's Motor Speedway this weekend.

Allmendinger will have to qualify the car on speed to make the field for the race Saturday night because the team is ranked 36th in owner points.

Kenny Wallace raced the car to a season-high 12th-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday. Now MWR is turning to Allmendinger, who is looking for a full-time job since he was let go by Red Bull Racing two weeks ago.

Allmendinger was a career-best ninth at Kansas Speedway two weeks ago in his final race for Red Bull.

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