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RICHMOND, VA. (AP) -- Denny Hamlin has ended a monthlong slump with another win at Richmond International Raceway. 

And this one pushed him into the top seed in NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. 

Hamlin bounced back from a last-place finish last week at Atlanta to grab his second career victory at his home track. It is his sixth win of the season and pushes him past four-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson for the top spot in the Chase standings. 

The Chase begins next week at New Hampshire, and Hamlin will open the 10-race playoffs with a 10-point lead over Johnson. 

Clint Bowyer and Greg Biffle locked up the final two spots in the 12-driver playoff field. Bowyer finished sixth to get his spot, while Biffle limped in at 32nd.

Carl Edwards finished tenth. 

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