It was a dominant displaying for Denny Hamlin at Martinsville, main over half the race (274 of 400 laps) within the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. That is Hamlin’s first win of the 2025 season and the fifty fifth of his profession — tying Rusty Wallace for eleventh on the all-time wins listing. It was additionally the primary victory for Hamlin with new crew chief Chris Gayle, in addition to his first with new sponsor Progressive.
“, Chris Gayle [crew chief], all of the engineers, the pit crew, everyone actually on that wall proper there, simply deciding they have been going to return right here with a special method than what we have been over the previous couple of years. It was simply wonderful,” stated Hamlin after amassing his sixth Martinsville win.
“The automobile was nice. It did all the things I wanted it to do. Simply so blissful to win with Chris, get 55.”
Hamlin additionally unfurled a particular flag whereas standing atop his automobile within the post-race celebrations. The next message was printed on the face of it: ’11 in opposition to the world.’
The run to the checkered flag
With Hamlin driving away from the sphere, the Cup end was far calmer than the calamitous ending to Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity race. Nevertheless, there have been nonetheless a sequence of restarts the place he needed to struggle exhausting in opposition to his teammate Christopher Bell, in addition to Bubba Wallace within the No. 23 automobile he co-owns.
The rash of yellows started simply after a spherical of green-flag pitstops when Shane van Gisbergen misplaced a wheel, trapping defending race winner William Byron a lap down. Then it was Tyler Reddick spinning out Ty Gibbs, leading to some heated radio communication and a post-race dialogue between the 2 drivers. Chris Buescher and Noah Gragson then tangled with the latter displaying his displeasure beneath warning. However the remaining warning of the race got here with 83 laps to go when Chase Briscoe ran over the within curbing and shot up the observe, spinning Joey Logano out. The race was slowed by a complete of ten cautions, however none within the remaining 75 laps.
From that time onward, it was inexperienced to the end with Hamlin pulling out to a cushty lead. Bell crossed the road because the runner-up after ranging from pole place with Wallace capping off a 1-2-3 end for Toyota.
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Photograph by: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Photographs
“I felt actually dangerous on the finish of the run there,” stated Bell. “I used to be falling fairly far again behind Denny. I believe qualifying actually good was an enormous a part of our success this weekend. Hopefully we will come again a bit of bit higher within the fall and have the ability to have a pleasant, strong day like we did in the present day.
“Everybody executed rather well. Thanks to my pit crew. They did a terrific job. The automobile was wonderful in qualifying. Bought us that primary pit stall, which was an enormous a part of our success in the present day as properly. We did the main points proper and got here dwelling second.”
Watch: Christopher Bell: ‘Did the main points proper’ in runner-up end
The Hendrick Motorsports duo of Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson rounded out the highest 5 with Elliott fourth and Larson fifth.
Ross Chastain, Ryan Preece, Logano, Briscoe, and Todd Gilliland stuffed out the rest of the highest ten. Just one automobile failed to complete the race — the No. 2 Staff Penske Ford of Austin Cindric after fighting battery points all day.
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