Another opportunity lost for Gibbs despite top-10s (cont'd)

"I'm happy that I finished second, but I'm not nearly as excited as I would have been if we had won the race," said Yeley. "Second isn't where we want to be. It's definitely better than we've been finishing, but we have all the things it takes to win races.

"Obviously, there's frustration," he said. "It's one of those deals that goes in cycles. Joe Gibbs Racing has led as many laps or real close to what Hendrick has, and we don't have the victories because unfortunately we just haven't led the right laps. It's going to come."

Hendrick Motorsports's four cars have led 1,385 laps through 12 races, earning nine victories. In the same number of races, the three JGR cars have led 1,269 laps and have earned no victories and four runner-up results.

Hamlin struggled all night with track position, but rebounded to crack the top 10.

"We were going to finish third, but everybody had to pit," he said. "Some guys got better fuel mileage than us. We just missed out there. We had a great night, a lot better than we tested and practiced here."

Hamlin too had some frustrations about coming so close?again?with no victory to show for it.

"It's very frustrating (to run that well and have to pit late)," Hamlin said. "I was getting closer and closer to Tony and Dale Jr. We had the best car at the end, we just didn't have the right fuel tank, we just couldn't afford to come in and top off like some of those guys did and they lucked out and got a good finish."

For Yeley, there was frustration that his result was overshadowed by talk of his future with the organization.

"I do my best every time I go out on the track," he said, with a little bit of heat. "As far as being on the 'hot seat,' I'll go back to driving sprint cars, if that's what it takes. This is all I know how to do and all I want to do. We've had some good runs; we just haven't had the finishes to show for it."

Team owner Gibbs was upbeat about having all three cars in the top 10.

"I'm really happy for Interstate and J.J.," he said. "You look at something like that where they just fought and fought and fought, and I think that jumped them up to 15th in points.

"As bad as we feel for the 20 car, we're still moving in the right direction in points and everything. You hate to lose the race when you have the best car, but I think we did the smart thing. It was a big night for us."

Big night or no, frustration is still the emotion of the day for Joe Gibbs Racing.