Denny Hamlin captured his milestone 60th NASCAR Cup Series win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 12 during the South Point 400 playoff, solidifying his place in the Championship 4 race in Phoenix. The Denny Hamlin milestone NASCAR win sparked a marathon celebration, as the veteran Joe Gibbs Racing driver revealed he stretched the festivities for 42 hours straight, marking a memorable chapter in his accomplished racing career.
Hamlin’s Victory Seals Championship 4 Spot and Historic Achievement
The South Point 400 saw Denny Hamlin execute a late charge, passing both Kyle Larson and Chase Briscoe in the final stages with the help of fresh tires. This decisive move not only earned him the win, but also placed him alongside veteran Kevin Harvick at 10th on the all-time NASCAR Cup Series win list. Hamlin currently stands as the only locked-in competitor for the highly anticipated Championship 4 showdown set in Phoenix.
After the race, Hamlin spoke with Shannon Spake about his extended celebration, providing insight into how he marked the occasion that added to his legacy and delighted his friends and supporters.
“I knew my friends were going to ask me, ‘Are we staying? Are we going home? What are we doing?’ And so I’m like, ‘Okay. I mean, if you can’t celebrate this one, you’ll never celebrate.’ So, I did. We stayed. I stayed up, I think it was 42 hours straight. So I am just now getting somewhat back to normal… It was fun.”
— Denny Hamlin, Driver
For Hamlin, reaching 60 Cup wins was a long-standing ambition. Despite his decades of experience and consistent performance, the elusive Cup Series title has remained just out of reach. As the playoffs unfold, he is notably the first driver confirmed for the final four in Phoenix, raising the stakes for what could be the defining moment of his career.
Extra Preparation Time Fuels Hamlin’s Ambitions for Phoenix Success
With his victory in Las Vegas, Denny Hamlin is enjoying his first entry into the Championship 4 since 2021. Now, with two weeks to prepare for the Phoenix finale, the Toyota driver anticipates this additional time could offer a significant advantage. On his Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin reflected on his upcoming opportunity to turn years of near-misses into championship success.
“We’re going to have a great shot at it. These things are hard to predict. It’s one race… but I’m looking forward to it. I feel like I definitely can get better at Phoenix. I’m certainly gonna spend the time to try to work on getting better there. I’ve got some extra time now to work on it. I haven’t had that.”
— Denny Hamlin, Driver
While Hamlin maps out his Phoenix strategy, his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Christopher Bell and fellow competitor Chase Briscoe focus on maintaining their points advantage heading into the crucial Talladega race. Bell and Briscoe hold comfortable positions above the playoff cutline, staying in contention for the remaining Championship 4 slots.
Next on the Calendar: Talladega’s Pivotal Challenge
The NASCAR playoffs continue with the YellaWood 500 at Talladega, scheduled for Sunday, October 19 at 2 p.m. ET. As attention shifts to this unpredictable superspeedway, Hamlin’s win at Las Vegas cements his status as one of the most experienced and determined veterans in the series, while his teammates and rivals scramble to secure their own places in the final championship race.
Denny Hamlin’s recent celebration and comments underscore the passion and energy that surround a defining moment in a top driver’s career. With former champions like Kevin Harvick and fierce competitors such as Kyle Larson, Chase Briscoe, and Christopher Bell in the playoff fray, the NASCAR Cup Series promises a dramatic conclusion as the field narrows toward the season’s final showdown at Phoenix.
