JGR meets with Hamlin’s crew after Darlington disaster

CHARLOTTE (AP) — Joe Gibbs Racing officials have met to discuss personnel changes after a pit road mishap cost Denny Hamlin a victory at Darlington.

Hamlin criticized his crew after a pair of dropped lug nuts during a late pit stop cost him the race. Hamlin led a race-high 179 laps and was second when he went into the pits. He dropped to 16th but managed to finish second.

Hamlin says if he loses the championship by 20 or 30 points, he'll know he lost it on pit road.

He says he gave away the Phoenix race. But he says there are two or three other races where he had the best car and lost on pit road.

The team met yesterday to see if any changes should be made to a crew that helped Hamlin to two victories and a third-place finish in the Chase for the championship during last year's rookie season.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)