Denny Hamlin backed up his win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the Fall of 2025 with a win in this year's Spring race, Sunday Afternoon. Last year's win tied him for tenth on the all-time win list with two-time Cup Champion Kevin Harvick; this win grants him sole ownership of the spot and moves him past his own goal of 60.
Hamlin's win last fall was emotional for many reasons beyond matching Harvick's record. It locked Hamlin into the Championship Four for the first time since 2020, in what looked to be his best chance at his first championship. It surpassed the number of wins he thought he would achieve, and it turned out to be the last win his father saw in person or on TV before he passed this off-season.
His father was not well enough to travel to Phoenix a few weeks later, where Hamlin ultimately fell just short of the championship, and Hamlin was upfront about the fact that he didn't expect his dad to see another championship run. His dad died in December, unexpectedly in a house fire; his mother, who was in the same fire, was able to celebrate with Hamlin on the front stretch along with his partner Jordan Fish, two daughters, and newborn son.
With everything going on in Hamlin's life away from the track, rebounding from the lost championship, the loss of his dad, and 23XI Racing's legal victory, Hamlin was candid that it took him a moment to get into the rhythm and enjoy the sport again.
"I know it took a few weeks to feel like driving and over the last couple of weeks regained my love," Hamlin told NASCAR on FOX.
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"It's great that Mom gets to see this. I know that Dad is still saying, 'That's my boy.' Hamlin choked up at his first mention of his father post-win.
Hamlin dominated the race with laps led but lost the stages to Christopher Bell and William Byron. In the final stage, he had to hold off Chase Elliott, who was making inroads into his lead in the closing laps, but couldn't get within the final half-second to challenge for Hendrick's first win of 2026.
This was Hamlin's and Joe Gibbs Racing's first win of the season, with the opening three rounds going to Owner-Hamlin's 23XI Racing driver Tyler Reddick and last week's first short oval win going to Penske's Ryan Blaney.
Toyota dominated the top ten with all four JGR drivers,Hamlin, Bell, Ty Gibbs, and Chase Briscoe finishing in the top ten, along with 23XI Racing's Bubba Wallace.
The Hendrick Chevrolets of Elliott and Byron, and Kyle Larson finished second and third and Seventh to put a wedge in the Toyota dominance, and Chris Buescher was the only Ford in the top ten, finishing sixth.
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