Cup Series: Hamlin secures spot in Championship 4 with Vegas victory

Written by Sean McKean

Credit: Logan Riely / Getty Images for NASCAR

For career win number 60, Denny Hamlin took victory in Las Vegas to lock his way into the Championship 4. It was his sixth victory of the season. 

As it unfolded

From his fourth pole of the season, Denny Hamlin led the way, but teammate Chase Briscoe took the lead by the end of the opening lap.

The first batch of green flag pit stops began on Lap 32. With a slow change on the right-rear, Briscoe lost the lead to William Byron. He also fell behind Kyle Larson and Tyler Reddick.

As the first stage neared its end, Ryan Blaney brought out the first caution on Lap 72. This came after Blaney’s right-front tyre sent him straight into the outside wall in Turn 3. The damage was terminal.

Byron led the way with three laps remaining in the stage, holding the lead to the end. Larson and Briscoe followed suit.

Stage 1 Results:

1. No. 24 - William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports) [Playoffs]

2. No. 5 - Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports) [Playoffs]

3. No. 19 - Chase Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing) [Playoffs]

4. No. 11 - Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing) [Playoffs]

5. No. 9 - Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports) [Playoffs]

6. No. 23 - Bubba Wallace (23XI Racing)

7. No. 20 - Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing) [Playoffs]

8. No. 45 - Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing)

9. No. 54 - Ty Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing)

10. No. 22 - Joey Logano (Team Penske) [Playoffs]

Byron again led the way on Lap 87, but he was swamped by new leader Kyle Larson and second-placed Chase Briscoe.

The second batch of green flag stops began on Lap 117. Larson retained the lead whilst Tyler Reddick took second.

Larson remained strong out front to win the second stage. Reddick and Byron followed behind.

Stage 2 Results:

1. No. 5 - Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports) [Playoffs]

2. No. 45 - Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing) 

3. No. 24 - William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports) [Playoffs]

4. No. 11 - Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing) [Playoffs]

5. No. 19 - Chase Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing) [Playoffs]

6. No. 20 - Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing) [Playoffs]

7. No. 54 - Ty Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing)

8. No. 48 - Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports)

9. No. 22 - Joey Logano (Team Penske) [Playoffs]

10. No. 77 - Carson Hocevar (Spire Motorsports)

Larson led the field on Lap 173.

Briscoe began the final round of green flag stops on Lap 211. Through pit cycles, Byron took the lead back from Larson. 

Byron’s lead evaporated after a mistake with 39 laps to go in Turn 2 allowed Larson to take the lead back.

This was the least of Byron’s concerns, however, as his day came to an end with 31 laps remaining. Ty Dillon attempted to come to pit road, but Byron remained unaware of this, sending him hard into the back of the Kaulig ahead. Both drivers emerged unhurt but out of the race.

On pit road, Chase Briscoe came out first ahead of Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski – all of whom took two tyres.

Briscoe led the way, but a crash behind immediately brought the caution back out. This came from Ty Gibbs getting sandwiched between Brad Keselowski and Shane van Gisbergen, sending him into a spin. Gibbs, Van Gisbergen and Cody Ware all retired from this accident. 

Briscoe led the way with only 14 laps remaining, and as the laps wound down, the race remained firmly between him, Hamlin and Larson. 

Ten laps later, Hamlin made his way past Briscoe for the lead. 

Hamlin took a mightily important victory in Vegas.

Provisional Results:

1. No. 11 - Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing) [Playoffs]

2. No. 5 - Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports) [Playoffs]

3. No. 20 - Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing) [Playoffs]

4. No. 19 - Chase Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing) [Playoffs]

5. No. 45 - Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing)

6. No. 22 - Joey Logano (Team Penske) [Playoffs]

7. No. 48 - Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports)

8. No. 8 - Kyle Busch (Richard Childress Racing)

9. No. 60 - Ryan Preece (RFK Racing)

10. No. 6 - Brad Keselowski (RFK Racing)

11. No. 2 - Austin Cindric (Team Penske)

12. No. 17 - Chris Buescher (RFK Racing)

13. No. 4 - Noah Gragson (Front Row Motorsports)

14. No. 47 - Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (Hyak Motorsports)

15. No. 43 - Erik Jones (Legacy Motor Club)

16. No. 71 - Michael McDowell (Spire Motorsports)

17. No. 35 - Riley Herbst (23XI Racing)

18. No. 9 - Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports) [Playoffs]

19. No. 16 - AJ Allmendinger (Kaulig Racing)

20. No. 99 - Daniel Suarez (Trackhouse Racing)

21. No. 34 - Todd Gilliland (Front Row Motorsports)

22. No. 23 - Bubba Wallace (23XI Racing)

23. No. 1 - Ross Chastain (Trackhouse Racing)

24. No. 38 - Zane Smith (Front Row Motorsports)

25. No. 3 - Austin Dillon (Richard Childress Racing)

26. No. 21 - Josh Berry (Wood Brothers Racing) +1 lap

27. No. 7 - Justin Haley (Spire Motorsports) +1 lap

28. No. 41 - Cole Custer (Haas Factory Team) +1 lap

29. No. 42 - John Hunter Nemechek (Legacy Motor Club) +2 laps

30. No. 44 - JJ Yeley (NY Racing) +4 laps

31. No. 78 - Katherine Legge (Live Fast Motorsports) +6 laps

32. No. 77 - Carson Hocevar (Spire Motorsports) [DNF]

33. No. 88 - Shane van Gisbergen (Trackhouse Racing) [DNF]

34. No. 54 - Ty Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing) [DNF]

35. No. 51 - Cody Ware (Rick Ware Racing) [DNF]

36. No. 24 - William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports) [DNF] [Playoffs]

37. No. 10 - Ty Dillon (Kaulig Racing) [DNF]

38. No. 12 - Ryan Blaney (Team Penske) [DNF] [Playoffs]

After a race that inflicted much chaos unto playoff contenders, the new playoff grid is as follows:

Provisional Playoff Standings:

1. No. 11 - Denny Hamlin: [1 WIN; ADVANCED]

2. No. 5 - Kyle Larson: +35

3. No. 20 - Christopher Bell: +20

4. No. 19 - Chase Briscoe: +15

PLAYOFF CUT-LINE

5. No. 24 - William Byron: -15

6. No. 9 - Chase Elliott: -23

7. No. 22 - Joey Logano: -24

8. No. 12 - Ryan Blaney: -31