Hamlin dominates Gateway and advances in NASCAR Playoffs, !59 victories!

Denny Hamlin Dominates at Gateway and Advances in NASCAR Playoffs

NASCAR star driver Denny Hamlin showcased his focus and skill by securing a crucial victory at the World Wide Technology Raceway on Sunday. This triumph ensured his advancement in the Cup Series playoffs. Despite facing personal and professional challenges, Hamlin remained calm and executed a near-perfect weekend, starting from the pole position and leading 75 of the 240 laps of the race.

“I just outdo myself,” Hamlin declared after his fifth win of the season. “The only thing I can do is keep learning from the game, keep trying to improve, and every week is an opportunity to be a little better.”

Denny Hamlin

With his 59th career victory, Hamlin advanced to the second round of the playoffs, joining his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Chase Briscoe, who finished second. The strategy of the No. 11 Toyota team brought Hamlin to the pits for his final stop with 44 laps remaining, and thanks to a yellow flag, he regained the lead. Hamlin overtook Brad Keselowski on the restart, securing Toyota’s 200th victory in NASCAR’s premier series. Hamlin celebrated with a long burnout, provoking a mixed reaction from the crowd, to which he responded enthusiastically.

“They can boo me, but they can get on the train or get run over by it. I want all the noise and all the heat,” he stated.

Denny Hamlin

Hamlin, who also co-owns the 23XI Racing team with NBA legend Michael Jordan, and is also the host of a podcast, has managed to maintain exceptional performance on the track. 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 father of three children, manages to balance so many responsibilities.

“He’s in one meeting after another. The more he does, the better. He has a real determination to succeed,” Gibbs commented.

Joe Gibbs

Hamlin’s next goal is the championship, and his victory at Gateway brings him closer to that goal. The next race will be at Bristol Motor Speedway, where the playoff field will be reduced from 16 to 12 drivers.

After Gateway, Shane van Gisbergen, Austin Dillon, Alex Bowman, and Josh Berry are outside the top 12. Kyle Larson, after his 12th place finish at Gateway, can secure his spot in the next round simply by competing in Bristol. Bubba Wallace, who finished eighth after leading 73 of the 240 laps and winning the second stage, is also in a favorable position. Berry will need a win in Bristol to advance to the next round, after debuting in the playoffs with two consecutive last places. The incident he was involved in with Chase Elliott caused Berry to crash on lap 36. Elliott apologized for the incident after the race. NASCAR announced the passing of Bill Davis, whose teams won 40 races in the Cup, Xfinity, and Truck series from 1993 to 2008.