Hamlin takes wreck-filled Busch race

Hamlin, a Virginia native, then paid tribute to the victims of the Virginia Tech massacre, taking a school flag along for his victory lap.

Hamlin had hoped to honor the victims several times in the past month, and particularly last week at Richmond International Raceway. Still, he was glad for the chance to remember the innocent lives lost in the tragic shooting.

?I just feel like I?m doing my duty as a fellow Virginian to help them heal,? said Hamlin, fourth in the Nextel Cup standings.

The young star raced to his third Busch Series victory, winning from the pole at ?The Lady In Black? for the second consecutive year.

Not that it was easy.

Hamlin picked his way through a record-tying 10 caution periods to take the checkered flag. The race matched the 10 cautions from April 1984. A year ago, there were nine caution periods.

Hamlin stood strong through a final restart with six laps left. Busch points leader Carl Edwards got as close as Hamlin?s window as he dove low in turn one trying to take the lead, but Hamlin powered through the turn and was never tested again.

?We wanted to saddle them up and see what he had,? Hamlin said. ?And we came through at the end.?

Mark Martin, driving a Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, finished second, and Edwards was third.