Denny Hamlin claimed a crucial win in the Denny Hamlin NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, earning his spot in the upcoming Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway. Seizing the pole position and maintaining his lead through challenges, Hamlin opened the Round of 8 with his sixth win of the season and the 60th of his Cup career.
This latest victory places Hamlin, at 44 years old, as the oldest driver to win a Cup race at Las Vegas, while also tying Kevin Harvick for tenth in all-time Cup Series wins. With this result, Hamlin heads back to the title-deciding race for the first time in four years, marking his fifth appearance in the Championship 4, after previous runs in 2014, 2019, 2020, and 2021.
Playoff Drama Unfolds Among the Field
The race in Las Vegas saw several playoff drivers overcome adversity, with Hamlin himself facing two slow pit stops and a missed shift at the start. Despite these setbacks, he managed to stay ahead of the competitive pack as other contenders experienced their own struggles on the track.
Kyle Larson finished second, closely followed by Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe, and Tyler Reddick. Joey Logano completed the top six. Meanwhile, playoff hopefuls Chase Elliott, William Byron, and Ryan Blaney encountered difficulties that impacted their championship aspirations. Elliott received a penalty for an uncontrolled tire, resulting in an 18th place finish. Byron and Blaney both crashed, leaving them below the playoff cutline with two races left in the Round of 8.
Updated Standings and Playoff Implications
With the Las Vegas results, the playoff field has started to narrow. Larson sits second in the standings among the remaining eight drivers, 35 points above the cutline. Bell is currently 20 points above, while Briscoe holds a 15-point advantage. In contrast, Byron is now 15 points below the cutline, Elliott trails by 23 points, Logano by 24, and Blaney by 31, creating a tense race for the final championship spots.
Finishing Order from Las Vegas Motor Speedway
The full results from Las Vegas highlight the competitive nature of the race and the challenges faced by many top competitors. Hamlin led the field, with prominent drivers including Brad Keselowski, Erik Jones, Noah Gragson, Cole Custer, Todd Gilliland, AJ Allmendinger, Ryan Preece, Kyle Busch, and Christopher Bell all vying for key playoff positions.
1. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota
2. Kyle Larson, No. 5 Chevrolet
3. Christopher Bell, No. 20 Toyota
4. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Toyota
5. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Toyota
6. Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford
7. Alex Bowman, No. 48 Chevrolet
8. Kyle Busch, No. 8 Chevrolet
9. Ryan Preece, No. 60 Ford
10. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Ford
11. Austin Cindric, No. 2 Ford
12. Chris Buescher, No. 17 Ford
13. Noah Gragson, No. 4 Ford
14. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Chevrolet
15. Erik Jones, No. 43 Toyota
16. Michael McDowell, No. 71 Chevrolet
17. Riley Herbst, No. 35 Toyota
18. Chase Elliott, No. 9 Chevrolet
19. AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Chevrolet
20. Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Chevrolet
21. Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Ford
22. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 Toyota
23. Ross Chastain, No. 1 Chevrolet
24. Zane Smith, No. 38 Ford
25. Austin Dillon, No. 3 Chevrolet
26. Josh Berry, No. 21 Ford
27. Justin Haley, No. 7 Chevrolet
28. Cole Custer, No. 41 Ford
29. John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Toyota
30. JJ Yele, No. 44 Chevrolet
31. Katherine Legge, No. 78 Ford
32. Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Chevrolet
33. Shane Van Gisbergen, No. 88 Chevrolet
34. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Toyota
35. Cody Ware, No. 51 Ford
36. William Byron, No. 24 Chevrolet
37. Ty Dillon, No. 10 Chevrolet
38. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Ford
What Lies Ahead in the Championship Chase
As the Cup Series heads to its final stretch, Denny Hamlin has secured his place in the championship round, setting the stage for an intense showdown at Phoenix Raceway next month. With drivers like Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, and Chase Briscoe also in strong contention, the competition remains fierce. The struggles faced by William Byron, Ryan Blaney, and others demonstrate the unpredictable nature of the Denny Hamlin NASCAR Cup Series, with every remaining race critical for those aiming to secure a championship berth.
