Hamlin puts on a mileage masterclass to win 701st start at Michigan

Hamlin Clinches Michigan Victory with Masterful Fuel Strategy

Denny Hamlin secured a stunning victory at Michigan International Speedway, driving the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota to his third win of the season and the 57th of his career. Hamlin demonstrated exceptional fuel management, finishing 1.099 seconds ahead of Chris Buescher from Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing and JGR teammate Ty Gibbs. This win marks a significant milestone as Hamlin celebrated his triumph with a series of burnouts, ultimately requiring a tow to Victory Lane after running out of fuel.

In a race defined by strategic maneuvers, Hamlin navigated from 11th to fifth place with 20 laps remaining, capitalizing on critical moments as Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron, who led a race-best 98 laps, was forced to pit for fuel on the final lap. Hamlin overtook Byron with just four laps to go, pushing the championship leader into a fuel-saving mode that ultimately resulted in a 28th-place finish for Byron.

“I wasn’t overly worried about running out of fuel,” Hamlin remarked post-race. “I wanted to get the lead, and obviously he (Byron) was doing a really good job defending.” His winning strategy exemplified a strong recovery for a team that had faced setbacks earlier in the season.

Byron acknowledged the challenges faced during the race, stating, “We had a really good car. It seemed like we waited a little more on fuel on that last stop and just burned more. It is what it is.” The race featured 13 lead changes among 11 drivers, indicating a competitive atmosphere throughout.

Other notable performances included Bubba Wallace finishing fourth for 23XI Racing, a team co-owned by Hamlin, while Kyle Larson and Ross Chastain rounded out the top five. For Front Row Motorsports, Zane Smith achieved a season-best seventh place, and Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch secured eighth. This race also marked a historic first for RFK Racing, with teammates Ryan Preece and Brad Keselowski joining Buescher in a top-10 finish.

The race encountered a near 12-minute red flag due to a four-car incident involving Alex Bowman, who crashed into the wall after contact with Cole Custer. The incident further highlighted a challenging season for Bowman, who has finished 25th or worse in seven of the last nine races.

With just 11 races remaining in the regular season, Byron maintains a 41-point lead over Larson in the standings, with nine different winners gearing up for the upcoming playoffs. Austin Cindric currently occupies the 16th and final playoff spot.

The NASCAR Cup Series shifts its focus to the international stage next weekend with the Viva Mexico 250 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, scheduled for Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.