Hamlin with tears achieves victory 60 and advances to the NASCAR final

Denny Hamlin Celebrates His 60th Victory with Emotion in Las Vegas

In an emotional day at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Denny Hamlin conquered his sixth checkered flag of the season, marking his 60th career victory. This triumph, dedicated to his father, who is facing health issues, propels him directly to the NASCAR championship final. Hamlin, recognized as one of the most outstanding drivers without a Cup Series title, returns to the race for the championship since 2021. This achievement consolidates him as the most successful driver for Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota. The victory in Las Vegas was especially significant for Hamlin, who couldn’t hold back the tears as he crossed the finish line. The 44-year-old driver, tied for tenth place in NASCAR history with Kevin Harvick, expressed the importance of this victory for his 75-year-old father, who introduced him to the world of motorsports.

“He’s the one who introduced me to racing and took me to a track when I was 5 years old,” Hamlin said. “I’m happy he was able to see the 60th win. That was very important to me.”

Denny Hamlin

Hamlin’s strategy at the last pit stop, where he opted for new tires, was key to overtaking Kyle Larson and Chase Briscoe. This victory could be the most significant in his career, highlighting the impact of his new crew chief, Chris Gayle, and marking his best season since 2020. Joe Gibbs, moved by Hamlin’s dedication, highlighted the emotional weight of the victory, especially due to the driver’s connection with his father. In the race, Kyle Larson took second place, followed by Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe. Tyler Reddick, also in the playoffs, finished fifth, while Joey Logano, the defending champion, placed sixth. The competition was not without incidents. William Byron, who was leading the race, suffered a mishap that relegated him, and was later involved in a crash with Ty Dillon, which resulted in his abandonment. Ryan Blaney, with tire issues, was affected by an accident that impacted his title aspirations. Despite this, Blaney remains optimistic for the next race at Talladega Superspeedway. In related news, Tyler Reddick, despite the health challenges his son faces, continues to compete. Rob Edwards, from the Andretti Global IndyCar team, debuted in NASCAR, taking on a new role at TWG Motorsports. Edwards, who hopes to attend several NASCAR races next year, expressed his enthusiasm for this new challenge. The next NASCAR race will be held at Talladega Superspeedway.