MADISON, Ill. – Denny Hamlin once again demonstrated his focus and took the victory at World Wide Technology Raceway, securing his advance in the NASCAR Cup playoffs. Despite the personal and professional challenges he faced, including his father’s illness and a recent legal defeat for his 23XI Racing team, Hamlin remained steadfast and achieved an almost perfect weekend. Hamlin, who started from the pole position and led the most laps, a total of 75 out of 240, expressed his winning mentality: “I just keep grinding. The only thing I can do is keep learning the game, keep getting better, and every week is an opportunity to be a little bit better.” With this victory, the 59th of his career, Hamlin advanced to the second round of the playoffs, joining his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Chase Briscoe, who took second place. Chase Elliott finished in third place, followed by Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano, thus completing the top five with playoff drivers on this 1.25-mile circuit. The strategy of the No. 11 Toyota team led Hamlin to the pits for his final stop with 44 laps remaining, and after a yellow flag, he regained the lead. Hamlin overtook Brad Keselowski on the restart, securing Toyota’s 200th victory in NASCAR’s premier series. Joe Gibbs Racing’s driver celebrated with a long burnout on the main straight, drawing boos from the crowd, which seemed to delight Hamlin.
Hamlin, known for his versatility, is also a podcast co-host and co-owner of 23XI Racing, the three-car team he shares with NBA legend Michael Jordan. 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, at 45 years old and a father of three, manages to balance so many responsibilities.“They can boo me, but they can get on the bandwagon or get run over by it,” Hamlin said. “I want all the noise and all the heat.”
Denny Hamlin
