Denny Hamlin sent to hospital

[rgage]

Denny Hamlin was taken to a Birmingham hospital Sunday after a tire failure led to a hard crash at Talladega Superspeedway.

NASCAR said Hamlin was alert and awake, but was transported for futher observation. Hamlin was complaining of a headache and was favoring his right foot after his slow exit from his crumpled car.

"The tire went down and it was quite a shot," Joe Gibbs Racing president J.D. Gibbs said. "He's got a little headache, so they're just going to watch him. It was a scary deal, but it's at least nice that he's alert and with it."

Hamlin was leading midway through the race when his right-front tire failed and his Toyota shot into the outside wall. He said nothing over his in-car radio after the hit and was slow to get out of the car.

Crew chief Mike Ford said he was unsure what happened to the tire, and did not have a chance to speak to Hamlin.

"But it happened so fast, I doubt he even knows," Ford said.

[rndmhro]

Could have been alot worse eh, Glad to hear he is doin alright.