Loop Data suggests Hamlin thrives on pressure at RIR

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- This weekend Denny Hamlin will try to break an 0-for-6 streak at Richmond International Raceway. A win at RIR is one the native of nearby Chesterfield, Va., wants more than any other -- and he has come very close in the past.

Hometown success is a statistical phenomenon in NASCAR. For the most part -- and for whatever reason -- drivers excel when the pressure is on to perform in front of the home crowd.

Take a look at a few drivers who have been geographically linked to a home track:

Of course, not all drivers are strong at their home track. For instance, Sprint Cup Series points leader Kurt Busch has struggled at Las Vegas. His Driver Rating is just 87.6, which ranks as his 13th-best among the 22 active tracks.

But Hamlin certainly brushes off any pressure that may arise from racing just minutes from where he grew up. He is outstanding at Richmond, and was on his way to a win in last season's spring race before a tire problem on Lap 382. He led 381 laps that race and scored a race-high Driver Rating of 129.1 despite a finish of just 24th. Hamlin, though, did win the Nationwide Series race at RIR that weekend.

Hamlin has finished in the top 10 in four of his six Richmond races, and has led laps in all of them. Below is his Richmond statistical race log: