Denny Hamlin Dominates at Gateway and Advances in NASCAR Playoffs
NASCAR star driver Denny Hamlin showcased his unwavering focus by securing a dominant victory at the World Wide Technology Raceway on Sunday, ensuring his advancement in the Cup Series playoffs. Despite personal and professional challenges, including his father’s illness and a legal defeat for his 23XI Racing team, Hamlin maintained his focus and had a near-perfect weekend. Hamlin, who started from the pole position and led 75 of the 240 laps, expressed his determination: “I just have to keep improving, learning from the game and taking advantage of every opportunity to be better.” With this victory, the number 59 of his career, Hamlin advanced to the second round of the playoffs, joining his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Chase Briscoe, who finished second. Chase Elliott completed the podium, followed by Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano, thus completing the top five with playoff drivers on the 1.25-mile track. The No. 11 Toyota team called Hamlin to the pits for the last time with 44 laps to go, and he regained the lead on a caution flag 15 laps later. The Virginia native overtook Brad Keselowski on the restart, securing Toyota’s 200th victory in NASCAR’s premier series. Hamlin celebrated with a long burnout on the main straight of the circuit, known as Gateway, which drew boos from the crowd, to which he enthusiastically responded: “You can boo me, but you can get on the train or get run over by it. I want all the noise and the heat.” Hamlin, who is also a podcast co-host and co-owner of the 23XI Racing team along with NBA legend Michael Jordan, has become a controversial figure in NASCAR, but this has not affected his performance on the track. In Gateway, Hamlin, who turns 45 in November and welcomed his third child in June, became the seventh driver in NASCAR history with multiple wins after his 700th start. The team owner, Joe Gibbs, marvels at how Hamlin can handle so many responsibilities. “He has a great determination to succeed,” Gibbs commented. The ultimate goal is the Cup championship, and Hamlin took another step towards that goal, securing his place in the next round before the September 13th race at Bristol Motor Speedway. The first round elimination race will reduce the playoff field from 16 to 12 drivers. After Gateway, Shane van Gisbergen, Austin Dillon, Alex Bowman, and Josh Berry are outside the top 12. After a twelfth-place finish at Gateway, Kyle Larson can secure a spot in the next round simply by starting at Bristol. Bubba Wallace, who finished eighth after leading 73 of 240 laps and winning the second stage, is also in a solid position to advance. Berry will need a win at Bristol to advance to the next round after debuting in the Cup playoffs with two consecutive last-place finishes. The Wood Brothers Racing driver was hit in the left rear by Elliott, causing Berry’s No. 21 Ford to hit the wall in Turn 2 on lap 36.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. It was just the wrong place, the wrong time for us again. Obviously, it’s unfortunate. We’ll go to Bristol and try to do our best and put ourselves in a position to compete for a win, and that’s really all we can do at this point.
Josh Berry
I didn’t mean to hit him. I’ve known those guys all my life, so I hope they know it wasn’t anything intentional. I felt terrible about it the moment it happened, and I wish I could take it back.
Chase Elliott
