Surrounded by his household, secured an emotional win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, taking sole possession of tenth place on the all-time wins record and breaking a tie with .
It was a race dominated by and , with their drivers combining to steer 253 of 267 laps. Impressively, there was just one pure warning throughout the whole occasion, and all 36 starters reached the checkered flag in a surprisingly clear race.
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This is a have a look at the largest winners and losers from Vegas:
WINNER: Denny Hamlin proves an ‘previous canine can nonetheless hunt’
Watch: Victorious Hamlin celebrates ‘household sport’ of racing
Hamlin has been very open concerning the impression of his father’s tragic passing on him as he received again behind the wheel for the 2026 season. However on Sunday, he erased any doubts that he might have misplaced a step following his brutal 2025 title defeat and the low season tragedy that adopted. He even fought again from a mid-race rushing penalty, rapidly making his manner again to the entrance of the sphere. After the race, he mentioned an “previous canine can nonetheless hunt,” and this 45-year-old is a transparent title contender as soon as once more.
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LOSER: Trackhouse struggles, and clashes with its former driver
Intermediate tracks have traditionally been amongst Trackhouse’s strongest and led all energetic drivers with the most effective Subsequent Gen common end at Vegas forward of the weekend. And but, they have been nowhere on Sunday. None of their three drivers scored any stage factors, and Chastain was their highest-finishing driver in seventeenth. Connor Zilisch’s troublesome rookie season continued, and his spin was the one incident of the race. practically spun as properly, and regardless of an excellent save, ended up ending lifeless final, shedding eleven positions within the championship standings. And to prime all of it off, Chastain received into it with ex-Trachouse driver after the race in a heated post-race confrontation.
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Watch: Chase Elliott has ‘blended emotions’ after Vegas runner-up
Hendrick Motorsports have had a median begin to the yr, a minimum of by their requirements, however any questions on their potential vanished on Sunday. HMS drivers completed second [], third [], and seventh []. Each Larson and Byron spent a while out entrance as properly, and Byron received Stage 2. They’ve but to succeed in Victory Lane, however there at the moment are three Hendrick drivers within the prime eight within the championship standings, and they’re the apparent leaders of Crew Chevy once more.
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Ryan Blaney, Crew Penske
Vegas was a quiet day for , however Blaney was taking advantage of it, working solidly inside the highest ten for a big portion of the race. Sadly, he was on pit street when the one and solely pure warning of the race broke out on the frontstretch. Within the last run of the race, he was solely in a position to make his manner again as much as sixteenth, falling to 3rd in factors behind .
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WINNER: RFK have been the most effective of the remainder in a strong showingChris Buescher, RFK Racing
Chris Buescher, RFK Racing
RFK Racing was a pleasant shock on Sunday, they usually asserted themselves because the ‘better of the remainder’ behind the Hendrick/JGR fleets. completed sixth, tenth, and eleventh for the historic staff. All three are contained in the Chase discipline in the mean time, and final yr, all three missed the playoffs, so sturdy factors days like this will likely be crucial for them to keep away from an analogous destiny this yr.
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LOSER: A rushing Briscoe spends many of the race trapped a lap downChristopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing, Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing, Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing
spent about 170 laps off the lead lap on Sunday on account of an early rushing penalty, however when he lastly received the free cross through the last warning, the #19 confirmed what it was able to. Briscoe rocketed by way of the sphere, driving from the very again to complete eighth within the last green-flag run. It was a strong effort, however he understandably noticed it as a missed alternative. He did make some floor in factors after a disasterous begin to 2026, however he is nonetheless solely twenty sixth after 5 races. Additionally, he received nailed with a rushing penalty each through the race and on his solution to the observe on Sunday!
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