Denny Hamlin reached a career milestone at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, October 12, capturing his 60th NASCAR Cup Series victory after outpacing Kyle Larson during a tense finish. With this Denny Hamlin 60th career win, he not only secured a coveted spot in this year’s Championship 4, but also tied Kevin Harvick for 10th on the all-time Cup wins list, in a moment heavy with personal meaning for the Virginia native.
Hamlin Clinches a Milestone Victory in Nevada
Hamlin’s performance at Las Vegas was nothing short of dramatic as he managed to outrun a determined Kyle Larson in the closing laps. The race unfolded with Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe, and Tyler Reddick rounding out the top five, giving Toyota a strong showing behind the wheel. With 60 wins, Hamlin’s longevity and persistence in the Cup Series earned him a place among the sport’s legends, catching up with Kevin Harvick on the all-time leaderboard.
Throughout his 19-year career at the highest level of stock car racing, Hamlin and the No. 11 team have been consistent threats week after week, even though the championship itself has proven elusive. This win, however, resonated deeply both for Hamlin and NASCAR fans, as an emotional wave swept over the frontstretch during the winner’s interview.
This one means a little more for @dennyhamlin. pic.twitter.com/q5A9RlsIkI— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 13, 2025
Unlike some past appearances marked by divisive bravado, Hamlin stood openly emotional after crossing the finish line, the nature of his achievement and personal circumstances evident for all to see. For Hamlin, surpassing this milestone while his father still had the chance to witness it amplified the occasion, especially considering that his father’s health has been publicly acknowledged as declining.
Denny Hamlin on not hiding his emotions today: “I do have feelings; I know it’s hard to believe.”— Kelly Crandall (@KellyCrandall) October 13, 2025
The significance of this race for Hamlin was heightened not only by his personal connection to the moment, but also by stressful circumstances off the racetrack. While balancing his life as a father of three and his quest for a championship, Hamlin has also wrestled with the challenges of running a multi-car race team that is presently in a legal dispute with NASCAR, the very sanctioning body it competes under. The ongoing litigation means Hamlin’s team isn’t currently an officially chartered organization, leaving their financial future uncertain and their employees’ job security hanging in the balance as the 2026 season approaches.
After all the near misses in his pursuit of a Cup title, reaching 60 victories is a testament to Hamlin’s consistency and perseverance — a fact that resonates even with those who have long rooted against him. As the checkered flag fell, even Hamlin’s critics found themselves appreciating an athlete who’s spent almost two decades at the forefront of NASCAR competition.
Kyle Larson’s Strong Run Comes Up Just Short
Kyle Larson, piloting the No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, entered the Las Vegas race as the odds-on favorite. Coming off his longest winless streak since the team’s 2021 revival, Larson was eager for a breakthrough, and the results on track made it clear. He led a commanding 129 laps, marking his biggest lead tally in a Cup event since capturing the victory at Kansas Speedway in May.
Larson’s pace remained formidable through two stages, finishing second in the opening segment and taking the victory in stage two, putting him in a strong position among the playoff contenders.
No slowing down @KyleLarsonRacin right now! He leads 74 laps en route to the Stage 2 victory. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/yv9QXhDBLk— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 12, 2025
However, the tide shifted in the final stretch following a late caution involving teammate William Byron. Under caution, crew chief Cliff Daniels called for a four-tire stop, but an unexpectedly long cleanup and a multi-car incident in the next restart left just 14 laps for Larson to challenge Hamlin. Despite his earlier dominance, Larson was unable to reclaim the lead and finished runner-up for the second consecutive race and third time since his last win.
The second-place result still bodes well for Larson’s playoff standing — he now carries a comfortable 35-point buffer over his teammate below the cut line as the playoffs head to Talladega. This sets up the No. 5 team as a clear threat for a spot in the Championship 4, with momentum on their side despite the near miss in Las Vegas.
William Byron and Teammates Caught in Playoff Drama
William Byron was another standout performer in Las Vegas, driving the No. 24 for Hendrick Motorsports, and showing renewed form after a quiet playoff run to that point. Byron led 55 laps — his highest since his Iowa Speedway triumph — and opened the race by capturing the stage one win and placing third in stage two.
Those are huge points for @WilliamByron! He wins the opening stage at @LVMotorSpeedway. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/IJdP4mXaQM— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 12, 2025
Byron appeared to have a strong chance at victory when he took the lead with 36 laps remaining. But a slip in turn 1 opened the door for Larson to regain first place, and the afternoon’s chaos was far from over. Ty Dillon, piloting the No. 10 car, initiated a controversial sequence attempting to pit, with ambiguity over whether adequate signals were communicated to the teams around him.
A big moment for the No. 24! @KyleLarsonRacin regains the lead! pic.twitter.com/vyM7aFWxku— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 12, 2025
The resulting confusion proved costly for Byron and significantly hampered his playoff prospects. Questions about fault lingered, with Byron’s crew claiming no notification occurred while Dillon and his spotter insisted they gave warnings. This communication breakdown left Byron behind in the postseason standings, now facing a 15-point deficit to fourth-place Briscoe and only two races left to recover ground.
Big trouble for the No. 24 of @WilliamByron! pic.twitter.com/I2fncPZeWW— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 13, 2025
Challenges and Setbacks for Other Playoff Contenders
William Byron was not alone in his postseason struggles. Chase Elliott, also with Hendrick Motorsports, endured a tough outing in Las Vegas. After a promising fifth-place in the opening stage, Elliott’s race unraveled with an uncontrolled tire penalty in stage two, dropping him a lap down and resulting in an 18th-place finish. The disappointing result sees Elliott trailing the cut line by 23 points as the playoffs intensify.
Ryan Blaney, representing Team Penske, had an even harsher fate. A cut tire on lap 73 sent the No. 12 hard into the wall, ending Blaney’s race early and relegating him to a last-place classification. This major setback leaves the Ohio driver 31 points out from the critical playoff spot, making his path forward all the more challenging.
Memorable Paint Schemes Highlight Las Vegas Weekend
The Las Vegas race also featured several striking one-off paint schemes, catching the attention of fans and teams alike. The No. 5 car, driven by Larson, sported a unique black and gold design complemented by the branding of the Zac Brown Band, a rare collaboration in the Cup Series. The scheme subtly incorporated the iconic Las Vegas sphere in its base graphics, adding an artistic element that stood out on race day.
🎶 You know I like my chicken fried. 🎶 pic.twitter.com/hmJp7xQjLl— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 12, 2025
Although the race schedule didn’t allow the design to glisten under the lights, the creative effort added a special flair to an already energetic event in Sin City.
Looking Toward Talladega and Playoff Implications
The NASCAR Cup Series now shifts to Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama for the last major superspeedway race of the season, a critical contest as the playoffs’ Round of 8 continues. With Hamlin locked into the Championship 4, the battle for the remaining spots is more intense than ever, as veteran and rising drivers from organizations like Hendrick Motorsports, Team Penske, and Toyota scramble to secure their postseason dreams amidst looming uncertainty.
The 500-mile race in Alabama promises high stakes and no shortage of drama, with coverage set to begin at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, October 19. As Hamlin’s emotional Las Vegas triumph becomes part of NASCAR lore, attention rapidly shifts to who will emerge from Talladega with their championship hopes intact — setting the stage for even greater battles as the season reaches its climax.
This one means a little more for @dennyhamlin. pic.twitter.com/q5A9RlsIkI
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 13, 2025
Denny Hamlin on not hiding his emotions today: "I do have feelings; I know it's hard to believe."
— Kelly Crandall (@KellyCrandall) October 13, 2025
No slowing down @KyleLarsonRacin right now!
He leads 74 laps en route to the Stage 2 victory. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/yv9QXhDBLk
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 12, 2025
Those are huge points for @WilliamByron!
He wins the opening stage at @LVMotorSpeedway. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/IJdP4mXaQM
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 12, 2025
A big moment for the No. 24! @KyleLarsonRacin regains the lead! pic.twitter.com/vyM7aFWxku
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 12, 2025
Big trouble for the No. 24 of @WilliamByron! pic.twitter.com/I2fncPZeWW
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 13, 2025
🎶 You know I like my chicken fried. 🎶 pic.twitter.com/hmJp7xQjLl
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 12, 2025
