DARLINGTON, S.C. — Denny Hamlin carefully executed his plan, paving the way for his pit crew to deliver an impeccable performance at the most decisive moment. Heading into the pit stops during the final caution while in third place, Hamlin focused on hitting all his marks, allowing his team to take control. The Joe Gibbs Racing crew did just that, enabling Hamlin to seize the lead. On the final restart, he robustly held off William Byron, clinching the Goodyear 400 victory on Sunday. This triumph marked Hamlin’s 56th career win in NASCAR, his fifth at Darlington Raceway, and the second consecutive win in the current season.
Reflecting on his growing list of victories, Hamlin expressed immense satisfaction. “Achieving 56 wins is a tremendous accomplishment,” noted Joe Gibbs, Hamlin’s long-time car owner. Despite challenges from Byron and other competitors, Hamlin patiently bided his time, eventually making a decisive move during the green-white-checkered finish. “I still got it. I can compete at a high level and am eager to secure more wins this year,” Hamlin asserted. Coming off a win at Martinsville, Hamlin opted for the outside lane in the final restart, surging ahead of series points leader Byron and NASCAR win leader Christopher Bell.
Initially, Ryan Blaney looked poised for a victory after overtaking Tyler Reddick with just three laps remaining. However, a spin by Kyle Larson prompted a final caution and extended the race. Hamlin’s Joe Gibbs Racing crew seized the opportunity, getting him back on track rapidly and in the lead position. Byron, who dominated the first 243 laps, finished second, followed by Hamlin’s teammate Bell. “I have two favorites right now: my pit crew and Kyle Larson,” Hamlin quipped to a mix of cheers and boos. Reddick secured fourth place, while Blaney ended in fifth. The rest of the top ten included Chris Buescher, Ross Chastain, Chase Elliott, Ty Gibbs, and Kyle Busch.
Hamlin attributed his latest victories to his efficient pit crew. “They did phenomenal work. They were the key to winning last week and this week,” he acknowledged. Blaney was confident of sealing his first Darlington win after passing Reddick, but Larson’s spin dashed those hopes with the emergence of a caution flag. Byron also saw a chance to be the first NASCAR driver in nearly 25 years to lead every lap to victory slip away during the last round of green-flag pit stops. “It was shaping up to be a perfect race,” Byron lamented. “Once control was lost, it was too late to regain the lead.”
Meanwhile, it was a day to forget for Kyle Larson, who had aspired for a second victory at Darlington after his 2023 Southern 500 win. A collision with the inside wall on lap three sent him to the garage, with his team laboring for hours to return him to the track. Larson car returned during lap 164, ending 37th, a dismal 161 laps off the pace.
Adding a touch of nostalgia, Greg Biffle, the last driver to achieve consecutive Darlington Cup Series wins in 2006 and 2007, drove the pace car for Sunday’s race. Biffle has had eventful months recently, conducting rescue missions with his helicopter in the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastation in the Southeast. He recounted receiving notifications about stranded individuals in Western North Carolina while planning a trip to the Bahamas. “Despite a power outage, we managed to get the helicopter airborne,” he recalled. Biffle spent 11 exhausting days flying from sunrise until sundown to aid those in need. His humanitarian efforts earned him the Myers Brothers Humanitarian Award.
Looking ahead, the racing series is set to hit Bristol on April 13, followed by a traditional Easter break.