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TALLADEGA, Ala. -- Denny Hamlin started his full-time career at Joe Gibbs Racing with an upset victory in an exhibition race at Daytona. Over the years, he added three more wins in races that didnt count, including a sweep this season in the buildup to the Daytona 500. But when it came to the restrictor-plate races that paid points, Hamlin came up empty time and again. Until now. Hamlin, who opened the season with two exhibition victories only to finish second in the Daytona 500, was again sitting second in the closing laps Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway. But he won a drag race with leader Kevin Harvick on a restart with two laps remaining, and was out front when NASCAR froze the field because of debris from an accident. Hamlin let out a deep sigh when the yellow flag waved. "Superspeedway win," he said on his radio. "With points! With points!" "I think Ive gotten better. Ive come close. When you drive as aggressive as I drove early in my career on superspeedways, youre going to have a huge risk, huge reward," he said after the win. "I was either wrecking or finishing in the top three every single superspeedway race and was wrecking most of the time. I think this way of driving and the way Im doing things now kind of lends itself to being a little bit more consistent on these type of race tracks, and really you learn from the guys that are good at it." Hamlin became the eighth winner in 10 races this season as drivers jockey to grab the 16 spots available in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. A victory conceivably gives a driver an automatic berth, and Joe Gibbs Racing now has both Hamlin and Kyle Busch eligible for the Chase. "I wasnt ever worried, but you get a little bit more panicked when its, Win a race and youre in Chase, " he said. "You see all these guys logging wins, wins, wins, and the next thing you know theyre running out of Chase spots. Now we can be a little bit more relaxed." The win came at the track where Hamlin made a brief return last year -- he ran just 23 laps before turning his car over to Brian Vickers -- after missing four races with a broken back. Hamlins return to the car briefly built some momentum for the No. 11 team, but as his back continued to ache, the season fell apart in late summer and it took until the season finale for Hamlin to score his first win of the year. He also missed the Chase for the first time in his career. It didnt appear that Hamlin had enough to beat Harvick, already a two-time winner this season, until the final restart. Harvick didnt get the help he needed from behind, was hung out without any drafting partners, and Hamlin pulled out to a comfortable lead. "We were in a good spot there at the end, and what you would want to put yourself in a position to win," Harvick said. "Our line just never formed up." As Hamlin pulled away, an accident deep in the pack scattered debris, and NASCAR was forced to throw the caution when a bumper was seen laying on the surface. The yellow prevented Greg Biffle, who led five times for a race-high 58 laps, from pulling out of line in an attempt to grab the victory away from Hamlin. "I just didnt want to pass too early. I was going to be the lone soldier on the outside lane," Biffle said. "So I was just waiting. I was setting up to go by him but just never had the chance." Clint Bowyer finished third and was followed by Michael Waltrip Racing teammate Brian Vickers as Toyota took the victory and three of the top four spots. AJ Allmendinger finished fifth in a Chevrolet, followed by Paul Menard and then Harvick, who faded to seventh. Kasey Kahne, Kyle Larson and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. rounded out the top 10. Daytona 500 winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished a disappointing 26th despite leading three times for 26 laps, second most in the race. Danica Patrick led two times for six laps, and the crowd roared its approval when she drove to the front early in the race. She finished 22nd. "It was nice to lead laps," she said. "It was a fast, fast car so well be happy to take this one to Daytona." It was a rough day for Brad Keselowski, a two-time Talladega winner, who darted to the lead on Lap 14 but appeared to not have cleared Patrick before squeezing in front of her car. She tapped the back of Keselowskis car, sending him for a spin through the grass that caused enough damage to drop him six laps off the pace. "We werent clear enough to make that," crew chief Paul Wolfe told his driver. "Ill just call it at that: We werent clear enough to make that move." Keselowski raced in the heart of the pack after the first incident in an attempt to get his laps back under caution periods. But he was heavily criticized for triggering a 14-car accident with 51 laps remaining. The accident began when Keselowski spun in front of Trevor Bayne, and among those collected were Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth, Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson. "Brad made a pretty bold move early, a mind-boggling move, in going in front of Danica and spun out in front of the field and got away with it," Kenseth said. "This time we werent so lucky. He was driving really, really, really aggressively to try to get back up there. "If it was the other way around and it was anybody else except for him, wed all be getting lectured." Gordon also chastised Keselowski. "I had seen him for several laps driving over his head being pretty aggressive," Gordon said. "I knew he was laps down, but he wasnt doing anybody any favours, nor himself." Keselowski took the blame for the late accident. "I just spun out in front of the whole field," he said. "I dont know why, if I just busted my butt on my own or lost a tire, but I feel bad for everyone that got torn up." John Starks Jersey . 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Even if he is shooting 38 per cent from the field overall this season, the Utah Jazz rookie always feels like his final shot is going in.Andy Murray will likely have to exorcise the ghosts of last years Miami Open final defeat to Novak Djokovic if he is to claim glory in the Florida sunshine. In 2015, Djokovic ran away with a 7-6 4-6 6-0 victory to claim the Miami title against Murray. Having been drawn in opposite halves of this years competition as the No 1 and No 2 seeds, they will not meet before the final. This is the potential route that Murray could navigate towards Miami glory. You can watch the Miami Open live on Sky Sports between March 23-April 3... Denis Istomin - second round Andy Murray booked his place in the third round of the Miami Open with a 6-3 7-5 win over Uzbekistans Denis Istomin. The Uzbekistan player managed to break Murray in the second set but couldnt hold onto the advantage. Murray eventually wrapped up a straight sets victory to condemn Istomin to further despair in a shockingly poor run of form.Istomin beat prodigious teenager Borna Coric in three sets in a first-round Miami tie which put some gloss on a bleak year - it was his first win in eight matches during 2016, and his first on the tour since last October. Istomin is the world No 76 and Murray had won both of their previous meetings in 2013.Grigor Dimitrov - third round Grigor Dimitrov is a highly rated youngster Murray might have found himself in a rematch with Federico Delbonis, the world No 53 who eliminated him last week at Indian Wells, but it wasnt to be. Bulgarias Dimitrov ended Delbonis hopes with a second-round 7-6 4-6 6-4 victory.Dimitrov, 24, is the world No 28 and will be no shrinking violet as a third-round opponent. Murray owns a 6-2 head-to-head record against Dimitrov, and has won their three most recent meetings.Gael Monfils - fourth round Gael Monfils brings entertainment to the court A match-up with one of the tours great entertainers would be a fascinating prospect for Murray fans. Monfils, complete with his arsenal of unorthodox shots and party tricks, is always great value to test the worlds top players.Monfils has a respectable two wins from six matches against Murray, although those wins came in 2006 and 2010. Since then, they have played just once and Murray won in the 2014 French Open quarter-final.Monfils defeated Delbonis, who in turn beat Murray, last week at Indian Wells but then lost to Milos Raonic in the last eight.Kei Nishikori - quarter-finals Murray (left) and Kei Nishikori played in the Davis Cup The athletic Japanese player is one of the few players on tour who can keep pace with Murrays high-octane, punishing style of tennis. Yet, the world No 6 Nishikori has only beaten him once in seven attempts.Should they meet in Miami, Murray vs Nishikori would be a rematch from earlier this month. They met in Birmingham in the Davis Cup, with Murray winning to hand Great Britain an insurmountable 3-1 advantage over Japan.That contest was a five-set marathon and Nishikori was up to speed for tthe vast majority of the match.dddddddddddd. Should they play again, Murray must know his opponent will not tire in the three-set format of the Miami Open.Milos Raonic - semi-finals Murray beat Raonic in a thriller at Melbourne Park A rematch of the five-set Australian Open semi-final awaits should the huge-hitting Canadian makes progress. And he will be fully be expected to following a wonderful start to the season.Raonic claimed his eighth career ATP Tour title in Brisbane before an impressive ruond defeat of the year.His recent form suggests he can mix it with the big name players, but he must stay fit and healthy in order to continue his improvement.Murray holds a narrow 4-3 winning record over the world No 12 and has won their last three meetings.Novak Djokovic - final Take a look back at last years Miami Open final where Novak Djokovic beat Murray Take a look back at last years Miami Open final where Novak Djokovic beat Murray Who else but Djokovic? The mighty Serb could be paired against Roger Federer in his semi-final after either Richard Gasquet or Tomas Berdych in the quarters, but it remains difficult to foresee a Djokovic defeat.Chief among his various accolades is a brutally one-sided record over Murray which includes last years Miami final. The world No 1 owns a 22-9 head-to-head advantage which has actually gathered pace in recent years.At last years Montreal Masters, Murray snapped an eight-match losing streak against Djokovic which dated back to his famous 2013 Wimbledon final win. Since the result in Canada Djokovic has romped to three consecutive wins against the Dunblane man, most recently in the Australian Open final in January. A second match-up of 2016 is an imposing prospect for Murray.You can watch the Miami Open live on Sky Sports between March 23 - April 3.By purchasing a Sky Sports Day Pass for £6.99 or Sky Sports Week Pass for £10.99, you can enjoy access to all seven Sky Sports channels and watch on a TV with a NOW TV Box or on a range of devices. Also See: ATP schedule Tennis on Sky Get a NOW TV pass Video ' ' '