Matt Weaver
Through three generations of race cars, Denny Hamlin continues to be the constant in the NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway.
Car of Tomorrow
Gen 6
NextGen
Hamlin won for the sixth time at the Virginia half-mile on Sunday, which is best amongst all active drivers, but also a win that snapped a 19-race winless skid dating back to last summer. He did so by outdueling teammate Christopher Bell over the final 275 laps, including a 75 lap green flag run to the finish.
The win at Martinsville was his first since 2015 and also his first with new crew chief Chris Gayle albeit with the same team in every other position. Former crew chief Chris Gabehart is now serving as the competition director for Joe Gibbs Racing.
“You know, Chris Gayle, all the engineers, the pit crew, everybody really on that wall right there, just deciding they were going to come here with a different approach than what we’ve been over the last few years,” Hamlin said.
“It was just amazing. The car was great. It did everything I needed it to do. Just so happy to win with Chris, get 55 … Obviously, back here in Martinsville where I spent so many years racing late models and whatnot — gosh, I love winning here.”
As Hamlin referenced, this was also the 55th win for Hamlin at the highest level, and first with new anchor sponsor Progressive Insurance.
Bell just didn’t have the grip he needed over that long run.
“We were back and forth on balance a little bit,” Bell said. “I asked to be freer throughout the whole race. That last run, I just went a little bit too loose and lost my drive off (the corners).
“It was a great weekend for Joe Gibbs Racing. Showed a lot of pace. All four of the cars were really good. Really happy to kind of get back up front. The last two weeks have been rough for this 20 team … Really happy for Denny. He’s the Martinsville master. Second is not that bad.”
The car that Hamlin owns, driven by Bubba Wallace, finished third for a second consecutive race.
“I don’t know if I had anything for Denny. It would have been fun to try,” Wallace said. “But all in all, hell of a day for Toyota. Top three. That’s nice. Keep the momentum going, having fun.”
The first two stages featured a great deal of strategic deviation that continually jumbled the running order alongside the timing of cautions. Josh Berry stayed out on old tires after the first caution and was poised to win the stage until a Chris Buescher spin brought him back down pit road.
Joey Logano won the first stage before his chances to contend were undid by a Ross Chastain nudge and then Chase Briscoe slipping on a curb to spin the defending champion out. Logano ultimately drove through the field to finish eighth and score his first top-10 of his season.
Hamlin led the remaining two stages.
NOTE: Post-race inspection in the Cup Series garage was completed, confirming Hamlin as the race winner. The No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota was disqualified for failing to meet the minimum height requirement. The No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet and No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota will go to the NASCAR R&D Center in Concord, North Carolina, for further inspection.
1. (5) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 400.
2. (1) Christopher Bell, Toyota, 400.
3. (8) Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 400.
4. (2) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 400.
5. (4) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 400.
6. (17) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 400.
7. (21) Ryan Preece, Ford, 400.
8. (7) Joey Logano, Ford, 400.
9. (11) Chase Briscoe, Toyota, 400.
10. (25) Todd Gilliland, Ford, 400.
11. (32) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 400.
12. (15) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 400.
13. (13) Ty Gibbs, Toyota, 400.
14. (9) Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 400.
15. (28) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 400.
16. (19) Zane Smith, Ford, 400.
17. (12) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 400.
18. (18) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 400.
19. (29) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet, 400.
20. (34) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 400.
21. (26) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 400.
22. (10) William Byron, Chevrolet, 400.
23. (23) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 399.
24. (31) Erik Jones, Toyota, 399.
25. (6) Chris Buescher, Ford, 399.
26. (16) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota, 399.
27. (27) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 399.
28. (3) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 399.
29. (30) Justin Haley, Chevrolet, 398.
30. (24) Noah Gragson, Ford, 397.
31. (36) Cody Ware, Ford, 396.
32. (35) Riley Herbst #, Toyota, 396.
33. (14) Josh Berry, Ford, 396.
34. (22) Cole Custer, Ford, 394.
35. (33) Shane Van Gisbergen #, Chevrolet, 394.
36. (37) Casey Mears, Ford, 389.
37. (38) Burt Myers, Chevrolet, 388.
38. (20) Austin Cindric, Ford, Electrical, 363.
