The closing portions of the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 were "best of the year" worthy.

On a postcard-perfect day, Denny Hamlin passed Clint Bowyer with 10 laps remaining to win his third career race at Pocono. As a rookie 3 years ago, Hamlin swept both Pocono races from the pole.

Following his victory in the race, which was postponed from Sunday because of rain, Hamlin was overcome with emotion during a postrace television interview. His grandmother, Thelma Clark, 91, died last week.

"We definitely had angels with us today," Hamlin, 28, said, before sobbing and covering his face with a towel. Then he was hugged by a crew member.

Later, speaking about his grandmother's influence on him, Hamlin said: "She lost her sight totally a couple weeks ago. [Previously] she had a 30-inch TV that she sat 4 inches from to see me. She had been to a couple races this year. She understands how much she meant to me."

Hamlin said his Victory Lane emotions were "70 percent family issues, and the other 30 percent was we've tried so hard the last year and a half. We've been so close. It was more a sigh of relief that we could do it."

Driving the black No. 11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, Hamlin led the most laps (91) in winning his first race of the year. He is fifth in the points standings.

Juan Pablo Montoya recovered from his pit-road speeding penalty on July 26 at Indianapolis to finish second, 0.869 of a second behind Hamlin. It was Montoya's best finish of the season. Bowyer was third, with Sam Hornish Jr. fourth, his top Cup series finish.

Speaking about his focus under the circumstances, Hamlin said: "[Emotion] was coming out on every single lap. When I was behind, it started getting frustrating, because I've led many races, I've dominated many other races, and not won. I felt like I was going to let it slip away again with about 50 [laps] to go."

Hamlin said crew chief Mike Ford "did a great job of motivating me."

"He said, 'Give me everything you've got the last seven laps,' " Hamlin said.

One flaw in Hamlin's victory was his ramming of David Reutimann with 24 laps to go. On the front straightaway, Hamlin sent Reutimann careening into Marcus Ambrose.

After Hamlin twice "got into" Reutimann earlier in the lap, Hamlin said Reutimann "got away by about a car length, then slammed on the brakes to let me know he was upset. I said, 'I get it.' "

Driving aggressively, the native Virginian hit Reutimann again.

"He got loose [off Turn 3]," Hamlin said. "When I got to him and pushed him, I was hoping he [would] straighten up. Instead, I spun him into his teammate.

"I'm racing for a win where it means more than any other weekend. Emotion probably was part of it. But I've got to make it up to those guys somehow, cut [Reutimann] some breaks on the track, or something."

The collision relegated Reutimann to a 29th-place finish. He dropped to 16th in points.

Points leader Tony Stewart, required to start at the back of the 43-car field for the second consecutive Pocono race after damaging his Chevrolet during Saturday's practice, recovered to finish 10th. He now leads Jimmie Johnson by 197 points. Stewart overcame an early flat tire.

Johnson, who inherited the pole position, battled a spark-plug problem on his Chevrolet, to finish 13th.

With five races remaining to determine the 12-driver Chase field, Kyle Busch moved up one spot to 13th. After finishing 16th yesterday, he is 101 points behind Greg Biffle, who is 12th.

Monday crowd strong

Talladega North?

Send e-mail to fleiscb@phillynews.com.