For the second time in the Lenox Industrial Tools 301, a Joe Gibbs Racing driver's bid to dominate the race has been felled by issues on pit road. First it was Kyle Busch's issues with right-rear lug nuts and a speeding penalty. Now a miscommunication between the dominant Denny Hamlin and crew chief Darian Grubb has dropped the No. 11 Toyota outside the top-10.
Hamlin and Grubb were discussing whether to take two tires or four tires on their latest pit stop under the caution flag. Grubb, thinking Hamlin had asked for four tires, made the call while most of the lead lap cars took only two. The gaffe dropped Hamlin to 13th place on the restart.
Kasey Kahne, Clint Bowyer, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick, and Greg Biffle are currently the top-five runners. Rain has threatened for much of the day and could strike soon with Kahne holding the edge on Bowyer as bot hseek their second win of the 2012 season.