LEBANON – Denny Hamlin gained the , Cracker Barrel 400, in thrilling style by holding off teammates Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe on the ultimate two laps on Could 31.
And within the course of, gave Toyota its first NASCAR Cup Sequence win at Nashville Superspeedway in its six races.
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Hamlin, Bell and Briscoe — a trio of Joe Gibbs Racing drivers — for Toyota.
Hamlin’s win got here after a track-record 31 lead modifications on the ultimate lap earlier than a sold-out crowd of 38,000.
It additionally got here after Hamlin, 45, went from of the 2026 season after being penalized for leaping the beginning from the pole place. It was Hamlin’s 62nd profession win. He’s the winningest lively Cup driver and tenth all-time.
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NASCAR Nashville race finest photographs from Cracker Barrel 400 together with Denny Hamlin
Darkish clouds are seen on the horizon earlier than the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Sunday, Could 31, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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NASCAR Nashville race finest photographs from Cracker Barrel 400 together with Denny Hamlin
Darkish clouds are seen on the horizon earlier than the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Sunday, Could 31, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Joe Gibbs Racing’s finest end at Nashville earlier than this race was in 2023, when Martin Truex Jr. was second, and Hamlin was third.
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How Denny Hamlin made last-lap lead change
Hamlin, Bell, and Briscoe ran three-wide into flip one on the ultimate lap.
“It was wild,” Hamlin mentioned of the ultimate lap with two teammates side-by-side. “At that time, I simply determined I used to be going to run the quickest final lap that I probably might and never fear about the place (Bell) is at. After we got here to the white, we had a horrible runoff. I do know the 19 (Briscoe) had run. I did not even know the place (Briscoe) was till I noticed a replay. I did not know we had been really three-wide.”
Hamlin determined to run as near full throttle as he might for the ultimate 1.33-mile lap.
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“I believe that (Bell) tried to not let me clear him and he additionally tried to clear the 19 and went too deep and allowed me to clear him,” Hamlin mentioned. “I simply determined I used to be going to run the underside. I used to be not going to wipe us out. I am not going to attempt to self-clear myself like I’ve executed in these conditions and that was one of the best ways to complete the final lap.”
Hamlin led 57 laps. Bell led 29 and Briscoe 14.
UPDATED 2026 NASCAR POINT STANDINGS:
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. completed fourth and Shane van Gisbergen was fifth to spherical out the highest 5.
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“It was nice racing, I hope the followers loved that,’’ Bell mentioned. “Simply disillusioned in myself, disillusioned for my group. We introduced an important race automotive, and I didn’t get the job executed.’’
After gathering the checkered flag, Hamlin gave a victory bow in honor of Kyle Busch, who died on Could 21, on the observe.
Even with the win, Hamlin mentioned he doubts there will probably be sufficient alternatives remaining within the season for him to win the into the playoffs with Tyler Reddick having such a commanding lead. Reddick, winner of 5 wins, is in first place with 657 factors, and Hamlin is in second, 97 behind him.
“We must win three or 4 extra races, (Reddick is) going to should have some DNF’s and stuff,” Hamlin mentioned. “My objective is to attempt to keep P2, and that’ll be shut sufficient with 10 to go.”
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The beginning of the race was delayed by an hour and twenty minutes as a result of climate.
As soon as the race lastly began, it rapidly turned a wreckfest. There have been 12 warning flags and 10 drivers − Chris Buescher, Brad Keselowski, Ryan Preece, AJ Allmendinger, Ross Chastain, Connor Zilisch, Josh Berry, William Byron, Alex Bowman, and Buba Wallace − didn’t end. It was additionally a observe report for the fewest vehicles on the lead lap with 15.
