Denny Hamlin Gets 60th Win, Ticket To NASCAR Championship 4 In Las Vegas

Denny Hamlin was in tears as he crossed the line in Las Vegas to win his 60th career race and secure a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4.

Hamlin’s father has been in poor health and the win put Hamlin into a tie with Kevin Harvick for 10th on the all-time wins list, which has been one of his goals this year.

“This is the point where I usually give the fans some s—, but not today,” a still-teary Hamlin said during his front stretch interview after the win to more cheers than he has become accustomed to this season. “I appreciate all of you so much.”

Hamlin started from pole and finished fourth in each of the first two stages, but a long pitstop late in the race looked to have knocked him out of contention for the win. William Byron had bizarrely driven straight into the back of Ty Dillon, not knowing he was pitting, to bring out a caution.

Hamlin rejoined in 10th with 23 laps to go, but there was an 11-car wreck on the restart and another caution. He lined up in sixth for what would be the final restart, but was able to drive to the front and pass Chase Briscoe for the lead with four laps left.

“Obviously want to say hi to my dad, family back at home, all the friends that came out here for Vegas and hoping we’d get 60 and I didn’t think we were, but, yea, just put the pedal down those last 10 laps and made it happen,” he said.

Playoff driver Byron was ultimately scored 36th, while Ryan Blaney finished last in 38th due to a cut tire that sent him into the wall on lap 70 of the 267-lap race.

Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe — all playoffs drivers — followed Hamlin across the line ahead of Tyler Reddick and Joey Logano, who had a rough day but took just two tires on the final stop to gain positions and keep his hopes of moving on in the playoffs alive. Chase Elliott, the final playoffs driver, finished 18th.

Hamlin, Larson, Bell and Briscoe head to the next race at Talladega above the cutline for the Championship 4, while Byron (-14), Elliott (-23), Logano (-24) and Blaney (-31) will be looking for big results at the always unpredictable YellaWood 500 on Oct. 19.

Full Results:

1. (1)  Denny Hamlin (P), Toyota, 267.
2. (6)  Kyle Larson (P), Chevrolet, 267.
3. (3)  Christopher Bell (P), Toyota, 267.
4. (2)  Chase Briscoe (P), Toyota, 267.
5. (8)  Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 267.
6. (9)  Joey Logano (P), Ford, 267.
7. (12)  Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 267.
8. (32)  Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 267.
9. (16)  Ryan Preece, Ford, 267.
10. (34)  Brad Keselowski, Ford, 267.
11. (31)  Austin Cindric, Ford, 267.
12. (11)  Chris Buescher, Ford, 267.
13. (28)  Noah Gragson, Ford, 267.
14. (24)  Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 267.
15. (19)  Erik Jones, Toyota, 267.
16. (18)  Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 267.
17. (33)  Riley Herbst #, Toyota, 267.
18. (4)  Chase Elliott (P), Chevrolet, 267.
19. (20)  AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 267.
20. (17)  Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 267.
21. (30)  Todd Gilliland, Ford, 267.
22. (7)  Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 267.
23. (15)  Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 267.
24. (23)  Zane Smith, Ford, 267.
25. (25)  Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 267.
26. (29)  Josh Berry, Ford, 266.
27. (27)  Justin Haley, Chevrolet, 266.
28. (21)  Cole Custer, Ford, 266.
29. (26)  John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota, 265.
30. (37)  JJ Yeley(i), Chevrolet, 263.
31. (38)  Katherine Legge, Chevrolet, 261.
32. (22)  Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet, Accident, 252.
33. (13)  Shane Van Gisbergen #, Chevrolet, Accident, 245.
34. (10)  Ty Gibbs, Toyota, Accident, 244.
35. (36)  Cody Ware, Ford, Accident, 243.
36. (5)  William Byron (P), Chevrolet, Accident, 235.
37. (35)  Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, Accident, 233.
38. (14)  Ryan Blaney (P), Ford, Accident, 70.