Denny Hamlin becomes winningest Joe Gibbs Racing driver after a dramatic victory in the FireKeepers Casino 400 held at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday, pushing his career Cup Series wins with the team to a new record. This significant achievement marked Hamlin’s third win of the current NASCAR Cup Series season and solidified his place as a central figure in the team’s history.
Hamlin Achieves Record-Breaking Victory at Michigan
On a high-stakes afternoon at Michigan International Speedway, Hamlin took a calculated approach with his fuel, stretching it to the limit to secure a memorable win. This victory was not only his third of the season but also his 57th career win in the NASCAR Cup Series—all achieved with Joe Gibbs Racing while piloting the iconic No. 11 car. By crossing the finish line first, Hamlin surpassed Kyle Busch to become the top-winning Cup Series driver in Joe Gibbs Racing’s history.
After his win, Hamlin acknowledged the collective effort of the team.
“You know, Chris Gayle, this whole team has just done a great job. We’ve been so fast throughout the entire year and just haven’t finished for one reason or another. It feels good to come here at Michigan where we’ve been so close over the years and get a victory for Toyota, Yahoo, Sport Clips, Shady Rays, Jordan Brand, everyone.”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Race Unfolds With Late-Race Drama
The closing laps were filled with suspense following a caution on lap 147 due to an incident involving Todd Gilliland. With fuel strategy coming to the forefront, leading teams and drivers had to find the balance between competitive speed and making their tanks last until the checkered flag.
Michigan native Carson Hocevar briefly claimed the lead on the restart, hoping for his first Cup Series win on home turf, but a flat tire with under 20 laps remaining dashed those hopes and allowed William Byron to take over at the front. Byron maintained his advantage until a determined Hamlin overtook him with just four laps left, holding off hard-charging Chris Buescher and Ty Gibbs to complete his victorious drive.
Reflecting on his run from outside the top ten, Hamlin credited his team’s strategy and his drive through the field saying,
“This is such a gratifying day to restart 11th, 12th, something like that and drive to the front,”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
He further described the demanding closing laps:
“I was going all-out pretty much the entire time. Once I got to the lead, that’s when I started saving. He kept telling me I was good, and I knew I was gonna have to go 100 percent to get around everybody. Just worked them one by one.”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Final Standings and Notable Performances
Bubba Wallace secured fourth position, and Kyle Larson completed the top five in the intense finish. William Byron’s race strategy unraveled as he was forced to pit for fuel right before the white flag, dropping him to 28th, last among cars on the lead lap. Carson Hocevar, similarly set back by his earlier tire issue, finished in 29th place.
NASCAR Cup Series Heads to Mexico for a Historic Race
Next up for the NASCAR Cup Series is an event at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City, an unprecedented stop for the organization. It marks the first points event held by the Cup Series outside the United States since 1958, underscoring NASCAR’s ongoing efforts to expand its reach. The Viva Mexico 250 is scheduled for Sunday, June 15, at 3 p.m. ET with coverage on Prime Video, Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
This pivotal victory not only reinforces Hamlin’s legacy with Joe Gibbs Racing but also keeps the competitive energy high as teams prepare for a momentous international chapter in NASCAR Cup Series competition.
