'Action Track' more like 'Heartbreak Hotel' for Hamlin, Earnhardt Jr.

RICHMOND, Va. -- Richmond International Raceway has always been known as "The Action Track."

Denny Hamlin's impressive run comes to a halt with eight laps remaining in the race. (AP)

But you couldn't blame Dale Earnhardt Jr. or Denny Hamlin for calling the place "Heartbreak Hotel."

Both drivers had what looked to be sure victories dramatically snatched away.

Hamlin dominated the race in record fashion, leading a historic 381 laps after starting from the pole.

However, a flat tire with only twenty laps to go ended the Virginia driver's dream of winning his first career Sprint Cup race at his home track.

"It's tough to say," answered Hamlin when asked just how disappointing the sudden turn of events was for the Joe Gibbs Racing driver. "I mean, you can't whine about it. It wasn't meant to be. God didn't want me to win today, and there's a better time for us to win, evidently. Today is just not our day."

It was a bitter ending to what was a wonderful weekend for Hamlin that included his Cup pole and a win in Friday night's Nationwide Series race.

And it was yet another late race mishap that kept Hamlin from visiting victory lane, a trend that has plagued the young driver during his three-year Sprint Cup tenure.

Time and again, Hamlin has had dominant cars only to be thwarted by pit road mistakes, mechanical issues or just plain bad luck with Saturday's issue the latest in what must seem like a never-ending string.

"You don't have days like this," Hamlin said. "Dominating days like this just don't happen. Usually, when it does, you have an issue at the end. To me, it almost wasn't that surprising. I've had these issues before at Bristol and some other race tracks. Figure out what's going on."

Gremlins and bad luck at Bristol or Phoenix is one thing, but when they come at a driver's own personal temple, it has to hurt even more.

"It means more here, for sure," Hamlin said. "I would have the same reaction at another race track, maybe not as much as what I feel right now. It's still just another win that slipped away from us."

Earnhardt's chance to end his now more than two year winless drought also slipped away, thanks to the controversial tangle with Kyle Busch with three laps to go.