Denny Hamlin can't come back early to race Saturday night at home track Richmond

NASCAR Sprint Cup series driver Denny Hamlin of Richmond, Va. speaks at The Grooming Lounge in Washington Wednesday, April 24, 2013, during an event with FedEx and the Red Cross to help small businesses prepare for disasters. Hamlin suffered a compound fracture in his back in a crash on March 24th. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) (The Associated Press)

NASCAR Sprint Cup series driver Denny Hamlin of Richmond, Va. meets with reporters at The Grooming Lounge in Washington Wednesday, April 24, 2013, during an event with FedEx and the Red Cross to help small businesses prepare for disasters. Hamlin suffered a compound fracture in his back in a crash on March 24th. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) (The Associated Press)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Denny Hamlin hasn't been cleared to race at his home track in Richmond as he had hoped.

Hamlin sustained a compression fracture of a vertebra in his lower back in a last-lap accident at California on March 24. Doctors said he'd miss at least five races, but Hamlin hoped to return early to race at Richmond, where he's a two-time winner.

But Hamlin wasn't cleared Wednesday to race after visits to Dr. Jerry Petty of Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Associates, and apparently consultations with others.

Hamlin has missed three races so far, two of which were won by Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth.

Brian Vickers will drive the No. 11 Toyota for him Saturday night at Richmond.