Denny Hamlin made a decisive surge in the closing 15 laps at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, propelling himself to a dramatic victory in the NASCAR Cup Series and securing his 60th career win. The Denny Hamlin Las Vegas win came after a series of bold overtakes, placing him ahead of key contenders and demonstrating his skill under pressure.
Strategic Overtaking Defines Hamlin’s Race
Starting the final stretch of the Round of 8 opener from the sixth position, Hamlin recognized the urgency required to advance. With 12 laps remaining, he executed a pivotal maneuver through the middle of Turns 3 and 4, passing both Alex Bowman and Tyler Reddick. This aggressive move not only moved him from sixth to fourth, but positioned him within reach of the race’s leaders.
“I thought the defining moment was when I shot the middle of [Alex] Bowman and [Tyler] Reddick and was able to clear Reddick just enough,”
Denny Hamlin said on Monday’s Actions Detrimental podcast.
“I shot the middle of them, got beside the 48, cleared the 45 and then when we come off the corner since I’m clear of the 45, now I’ve got him pushing me down the straightaway past the 48. It worked out really quickly. That one corner where I got two cars, I thought that was the moment.”
– Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver
Battles with Top Rivals Lead to Victory
After pulling off his signature move, Hamlin’s No. 11 car began to gain momentum, successfully overtaking Joey Logano and Kyle Larson. He then set his sights on fellow Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Chase Briscoe, overtaking him with just four laps to go to claim the win. The competition throughout the event was intense, with playoff drivers regularly jostling for position in the top ten, each aiming to advance to the championship round.
Inside the car, Hamlin relished the spirited battles, noting that the fight for clean air among the leaders added to the challenge.
“We’re always out there trying to get the cleanest air possible but when you’re in fifth or sixth, there really aren’t any clean lanes. You usually got cars staggered because everyone’s just trying to get out of the wake,”
Denny Hamlin explained. He emphasized the calculated risk in choosing the middle lane at a crucial moment, which ultimately paid off.
High Stakes and Lasting Excitement
The final stage saw the frontrunners, including playoff contenders such as Joey Logano and Kyle Larson, locked in a tight pack. Hamlin described the atmosphere as “fun,” highlighting how evenly matched cars and strategic play from drivers created a suspenseful finale.
“I’m telling you it was fun, really the whole race. The top four or five, other than in Stage 3 where we had that green flag stop and it did get strung out a bit, but I mean we were all just in a bunch at the end of these stages. It was fun because there were a lot of cars that were equal and everyone’s out there just trying to predict. Guys out front are playing defense and nobody’s getting away. So, it was a fun race.”
– Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver
Hamlin’s victory not only showcased his experienced racecraft but also tightened the playoff battle as the competition heads further into the Round of 8. As Joe Gibbs Racing and key participants like Chase Briscoe, Joey Logano, and Kyle Larson look to keep their championship hopes alive, Hamlin’s Las Vegas move stands as a defining highlight of the NASCAR Cup Series season.
