BROOKLYN, Mich. — Denny Hamlin is adeptly managing multiple roles both on and off the racetrack. He secured a victory at Michigan International Speedway, marking his third NASCAR Cup Series triumph of the current season and the 57th win in his career. Hamlin is balancing his responsibilities as a driver, an impending father, and a co-owner of a racing enterprise embroiled in legal proceedings with NASCAR.
Describing his hectic schedule, Hamlin said, “The tackle box is full. There’s all kinds of stuff going on.” Driving his No. 11 Toyota, Hamlin strategically overtook William Byron on the 197th circuit of the 200-lap race, ultimately winning by more than a second ahead of competitor Chris Buescher. “Just worked over the guys one by one, giving them different looks,” he shared.
Ty Gibbs matched his season-best performance by finishing third, followed by Bubba Wallace in fourth and Kyle Larson in fifth place. 44-year-old Hamlin stood ready to abandon the racecourse to be with his fiancée, Jordan Fish, who is soon expected to deliver their third child. He had plans to exit the Michigan track if she went into labor before lap 50.
In addition to these personal responsibilities, Hamlin is a co-owner of 23XI Racing alongside Michael Jordan, which is presently engaged in a lawsuit against NASCAR. Despite these distractions, he managed to bring a win for Joe Gibbs Racing, which had not won at Michigan in the last ten years. “I think it’s the most underrated track that we go to,” said Hamlin, who has achieved victory three times at the 2-mile automotive arena.
Hamlin’s victory at Michigan allowed him to surpass Kyle Busch’s 56 victories, becoming Joe Gibbs Racing’s most successful driver, and marking him as the tenth NASCAR driver to win after hitting 700 career starts. “It feels good because I’m going to hate it when I’m not at the level I’m at now,” he reflected. “I will certainly retire very quickly after that.”
His team’s strategic planning ensured he had sufficient fuel for a win, while other racers, including Byron, ran out late in the race. “It really stings,” lamented Byron, who finished in a disappointing 28th place. Hamlin, however, only ran low on fuel after his celebratory burnout.
Chase Briscoe initially held the lead from the pole, with Byron taking charge by Lap 12. Following him, Buescher established his place at the front by Lap 36, securing his first stage win this season. The race encountered a red flag at Lap 67 due to a crash involving Alex Bowman.
Despite strong performances in the initial stages, Byron was ultimately unable to overcome fuel limitations. Carson Hocevar gained the lead at Lap 152 but was forced into pit stops due to a flat tire and ended up finishing 29th.
Alex Bowman experienced another challenging race, hitting the wall hard in a multi-car crash. The impact was a severe blow, adding to his series of recent setbacks. Bowman, affiliated with Hendrick Motorsports, finds himself slipping lower in the standing, with this marking his third non-complete finish during a difficult stretch.
Meanwhile, defending champion Tyler Reddick made an impressive comeback, finishing 13th after starting from the back due to unapproved adjustments. The NASCAR series now heads to Mexico City for its first modern era points-paying race there, scheduled for June 15.