Denny Hamlin’s remarkable Las Vegas victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday locked in his place among NASCAR’s elite, guaranteeing him a spot in the championship finale. The Denny Hamlin Las Vegas victory, his landmark 60th career win, moved him into the top ten on the all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins list and cemented his reputation as a fierce competitor this season.
Hamlin Overcomes Challenges to Seal the Win
Denny Hamlin began Sunday’s South Point 400 in strong fashion, sitting on the pole for the second time this season—a feat he previously accomplished at Gateway. Despite this advantage, the race presented significant hurdles. Hamlin lost the early lead to his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Chase Briscoe, then slipped to fourth in both race stages as the contest unfolded.
The momentum shifted in Hamlin’s favor following a timely caution late in the race. Seizing the moment, he opted for fresh tires, which enabled him to surge back into contention. In a dramatic final segment of the event, Hamlin advanced through the field, overtaking two competitors in the last ten laps and narrowly holding off Kyle Larson to cross the finish line first. This hard-fought victory not only gave Hamlin his sixth win of the season but also further established his dominance, placing him tenth on the all-time NASCAR wins leaderboard.
Reflecting on this milestone, Hamlin expressed his emotions candidly:
“What a way to win 60, that was that was crazy like I don’t know you went, if I won it at like, out of Talladega, that’s one thing but like to come back from ten, with 20 to go, I just can’t believe it and I just can’t put it into words how much it means to me.” – Denny Hamlin, Driver
With this superb drive and result, Hamlin now advances directly to NASCAR’s championship-deciding final four. His rival Kyle Larson described Hamlin as the favorite to win the Cup title, praising his aggressive yet intelligent maneuvers on the track. As the most successful driver this season by race wins, Hamlin’s confidence and competitive edge seem to be peaking at the perfect moment for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Expert Views Describe Hamlin as a Serious Contender for the Title
The motorsports community has taken notice of Hamlin’s performance and work ethic. On the Teardown podcast, respected NASCAR Insider Jordan Bianchi highlighted the advantages Hamlin’s approach will bring to the upcoming championship showdown.
“Denny Hamlin behind the scenes is as tireless worker as you’re going to find…. You’re giving a guy who has got a tireless work ethic, who is all in on doing the little things. You’re giving him a three-week head start now and you’re giving his team three-week head start where they can effectively just forget about the next two weeks and their mindset is boom, go on Phoenix. That’s really dangerous,” he said via X/Dirty Mo Media – Jordan Bianchi, NASCAR Insider
Bianchi emphasized that Hamlin’s relentless preparation and detailed focus could prove pivotal given the three-week lead time before the championship race. With the finale’s winner-take-all structure, every advantage could be decisive as teams prepare for a race where only the victory matters for the title. However, history shows the Phoenix Raceway in Arizona, the location for the finale, has traditionally favored Team Penske over Joe Gibbs Racing. Christopher Bell, another top driver for JGR, has previously reached the final four at Phoenix but has fallen short of the championship both times.
This year marks Hamlin’s first chance to compete for the championship under NASCAR’s Next Gen Era rules. In his most recent appearance at Phoenix, he finished as runner-up after starting in tenth place, underlining both his skill and his determination to improve. NASCAR fans and analysts will be closely watching to see if Hamlin’s Las Vegas victory propels him to finally capture the elusive Cup Series championship for Joe Gibbs Racing.
What the Las Vegas Triumph Means for the Championship Battle
Hamlin’s thrilling comeback at Las Vegas has major implications for the 2023 NASCAR season’s conclusion. His win means he and the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing team can shift their full attention to preparing exclusively for the Phoenix finale. With such a pedigree and his position as both a veteran and consistent race winner, Hamlin stands as one of the strongest contenders for the Cup in a year marked by fierce competition among drivers and teams like Team Penske, and dynamic competitors such as Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe, and Kyle Larson.
For Denny Hamlin, who has come close to the championship before, the momentum from a historic 60th win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway could be the catalyst that powers him and Joe Gibbs Racing to their long-sought title. All eyes now shift to Phoenix to see if this season of hard work, resilience, and intense competition will culminate in a well-earned Cup Series crown.
🗣️ "That entire last 10 laps I did not think whatsoever. I just DID."
🏆 @dennyhamlin talks about the final moments of the #SouthPoint400 that earned him his 60th career victory @LVMotorSpeedway. pic.twitter.com/x0tv2Kgd24
— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) October 13, 2025
