Hamlin frustrated by pit woes

Hamlin has led four races this season for a total of 420 laps in the lead, but a number of problems have blighted his chances of winning a race, most of them while being in the pits.

At Martinsville he had a delayed pitstop that caused him to lose the lead and fall down the order, while at Phoenix he was penalized for speeding on the pit-road when he was leading as well.

Last Sunday at Talladega, Hamlin led most of the last part of the race thanks to staying out during a caution period. However, the risk didn't pay off as a later caution came out and the race distance was lengthened, forcing him to pit for fuel.

"You know, we're just - every time it comes to pit road, we have problems," Hamlin said.  "If it's not speeding; it's a loose wheel; it's a real bad pitstop or got to come in, top off with fuel.

"If we could just race out on the racetrack and not have to come in, you know, we could have easily three or four wins and they all could be in a row right now.

"But then, you know, we go to Phoenix and we had the best pitsstops of any other team. We won the pit crew challenge last time on pit road. You know, we can get it done, it's just we are to the getting it done at the right time."

The former Nextel Cup Rookie of the Year hopes he doesn't lose another opportunity to win next weekend when he races at Richmond, which he considers to be his home track.

"Last year, not to beat a dead horse, but you know, we came in the pit leading with 30 to go or so, and Richmond is my home track and we came out third and I finished second. It's frustrating," he added.

Hamlin, who finished third in his rookie season in the Nextel Cup last year, says despite his lack of victories this year he feels and improvement over his early season form relative to a year ago.

"I can tell you that I'm excited I'm competitive every week," he added. "I'm a lot more competitive this early in the season than I was last year at this point. We've improved on every single one of our finishes from last year, I believe, except for one. So, we're making gains.

"It's just we've kind of been bit and it is, it's getting - it's getting old and it's been frustrating. But, you know, I'm still really, real happy that I can go to the racetrack now and know that I'm a top two or three car every time."

Hamlin is currently fifth in the Nextel Cup points, 332 behind Jeff Gordon, but 111 clear of Joe Gibbs teammate Tony Stewart.