Denny Hamlin Dominates at Gateway and Advances in NASCAR Playoffs
NASCAR star driver Denny Hamlin once again demonstrated his relentless focus by securing a dominant victory at the World Wide Technology Raceway, thus advancing in the Cup Series playoffs. Despite personal and professional challenges, including his father’s illness and a recent legal defeat for his 23XI Racing team, Hamlin remained steadfast and delivered an almost perfect weekend. Starting from the pole position, he led a total of 75 laps out of 240, once again showcasing his prowess on the track.With this 59th career victory, Hamlin not only advanced to the second round of the playoffs but also joined his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Chase Briscoe, who took second place. Chase Elliott finished third, followed by Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano, solidifying the playoff drivers in the top five at the 1.25-mile oval. The No. 11 Toyota team called Hamlin to the pits for his final stop with 44 laps remaining, and he regained the lead after a caution 15 laps later. Hamlin, originally from Virginia, overtook Brad Keselowski on the restart, marking Toyota’s 200th victory in NASCAR’s premier series. Joe Gibbs Racing’s driver celebrated with a long burnout on the main straight of the circuit, provoking a mixture of boos and applause from the crowd.“I just keep grinding,” Hamlin declared after earning his fifth win of the season, the most in the series. “The only thing I can do is keep learning the game, keep trying to get better, and every week is an opportunity to get a little bit better.”
Denny Hamlin
Hamlin, who also co-owns the 23XI Racing team with NBA legend Michael Jordan, has become a multifaceted figure in NASCAR, combining his racing career with a podcast. In Gateway, Hamlin became the seventh driver in NASCAR history with multiple wins after his 700th start. The team owner, Joe Gibbs, marvels at how Hamlin, who will turn 45 in November and welcomed his third child in June, manages to handle so many responsibilities.“They can boo me, but they can get on the train or get run over by it,” he said. “I want all the noise and all the heat.”
Denny Hamlin
Elliott apologized for the incident after the race.“Chase and that team have done a lot for me, and I really doubt that was on purpose,” Berry said, who crashed on the first lap of the playoff race at Darlington Raceway. “Just the wrong place, wrong time for us again. Obviously, it’s unfortunate. We’ll just go to Bristol and try to do the best we can and put ourselves in a position to compete for a win, and that’s really all we can do at this point.”
Josh Berry
Previously on Sunday, NASCAR announced the death of Bill Davis, whose teams won 40 races in the Cup, Xfinity, and Truck series from 1993 to 2008. Davis had his five Cup victories with driver Ward Burton, including the 2001 Southern 500 and the 2002 Daytona 500. The Arkansas native, who was 74 years old, also fielded cars for Jeff Gordon and Bobby Labonte before they won Cup championships with other teams. “A championship-winning leader and owner, Bill Davis left a lasting mark on our sport through his passion and unwavering belief in the people around him,” NASCAR said in a statement. “Bill was more than a competitor: he was a friend to everyone in the garage, respected for his kindness, generosity, and genuine love for racing.”“I didn’t mean to get into him,” Elliott said. “I’ve known those guys all my life, so I just hope they know it wasn’t anything intentional. I felt terrible about it the second it happened, and I wish I could take it back.”
Chase Elliott
