Hamlin fends off Bell to score Dover hat trick in overtime

Hamlin Clinches Thrilling Victory at Dover

DOVER, DE – Denny Hamlin emerged victorious at the EchoPark AutoTrader 400 on Sunday at Dover Motor Speedway, securing his fourth win of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. The race was marked by a 56-minute red flag due to rain, late-race strategy shifts, and two overtime restarts, ultimately culminating in a heated battle between Hamlin and his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Chase Briscoe.

Hamlin’s experience proved pivotal as he commanded both overtime restarts, fending off Briscoe, who had fresher tires. The victory marks Hamlin’s second consecutive win at Dover, placing him among only 13 drivers in track history to achieve back-to-back wins.

“It was tough, those guys gave me a run for it, no doubt about it," said Hamlin, reflecting on the intense final laps. This win is particularly significant for Hamlin, who recently welcomed his son, Jameson, into the world. “Winning here at Dover is super special to me," he noted, acknowledging his previous struggles at the venue.

Briscoe, who finished second, stated, “I was so close to clearing him and just couldn’t do it. Obviously racing a teammate, I wanted to make sure at least a JGR car won." Despite his strong performance, Briscoe was ultimately unable to surpass Hamlin by just 0.310 seconds.

Hendrick Motorsports drivers Alex Bowman and Kyle Larson claimed third and fourth, respectively, with Ty Gibbs rounding out the top five. Chase Elliott, who led a race-high 238 laps, finished sixth after a strong early performance. Elliott’s finish consolidates his championship lead over teammate William Byron, who suffered an accident with two laps remaining.

Hamlin cycled to the lead on a strategic pit stop when Elliott pitted during a caution with 60 laps to go. He held onto the lead when the rain-induced red flag appeared with 15 laps remaining, controlling the final 67 laps.

In the In-Season Challenge, Gibbs and Ty Dillon advanced to the championship round after tight head-to-head battles. Gibbs triumphed over Tyler Reddick, while Dillon came out ahead of John Hunter Nemechek, setting the stage for a $1 million finale.

Next week, the NASCAR Cup Series heads to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the prestigious Brickyard 400, where Kyle Larson will defend his title.

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