Denny Hamlin is 44 and excelling at a time when many of his contemporaries are in the broadcast booth, off working on other ventures or hanging on at races without much success.

After his victory burnout, Hamlin unveiled a new victory flag reading "11 against the world" and held it to the Martinsville crowd. When asked about the flag, Hamlin credited the national championship-winning Ohio State Buckeyes football team with providing the inspiration.