Hamner Pleased After Strong Derby Week Despite Late Wreck

Top-Three Qualifying Run and Lap Money Soften Tough End

Josh Hamner is trying to trump his 2003 Snowball Derby experience where he was on the winning pit crew of the late Charlie Bradberry.  2011’s was an opportunity to do so, as Hamner led laps after qualifying third.  It was a wreck late in the race that ended his run in the Stanley Smith-owned number-49 car.  Hamner ended up 23rd, but still managed to be positive.

"It's the best Snowball Derby experience I have had in a long time," said Hamner.  "Everything leading up to Sunday was good. The car was fast all weekend and Sunday seemed like it was going to be a good day.  The car was good early, the guys did a good job on pit stops and we were leading laps."

Hamner actually lost a lot of time of pit road when a mistake was made with the crew and an extra member of the crew went over the wall to check air pressures.   

"I got penalized for a guy checking my air pressure on my right rear tire," said Hamner.  That was our eighth guy.  I thought our catch can man was back over the wall.  When that happened, the leaders wrecked and I thought that was a blessing at that point.  The car just got away from us, it wasn't terrible and we spent all day trying to stay out of trouble and we made some bad calls, and I did as a driver to keep us from having a good day."

Hamner will now take a long winter break to prep for his 2012 racing plans.