Finishing strong

Pole-sitter Denny Hamlin, a two-time winner at HMS, began leaking rear-end grease from a faulty clamp on Lap 13, forcing him to the garage. Although Hamlin went three laps down, fought his way back to the lead lap. He finished 10th in the race and ninth in series points.

Seven-time Sprint Cup champ Jimmie Johnson dropped to 35th after being ordered by NASCAR to repair illegal alterations to his right rear quarter panel on Lap 58. Johnson battled back to fifth with 100 laps to go and finished ninth.

Brett Moffitt earned Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors. Moffitt, 23, finished 31st Sunday in his 31st race of the season. He finished eighth for Michael Waltrip Racing at Atlanta but spent the bulk of his season gaining experience with Front Row Motorsports and ended up 34th in points.