Denny Hamlin ended a 19-race winless streak at his home-state monitor, keeping off a livid problem by Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Christopher Bell to win at Martinsville Speedway.
Bell completed second by 4.617 seconds, and Bubba Wallace was third as Toyota drivers swept the highest three spots. Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson rounded out the highest 5.
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It was 10 years and a day since Hamlin’s earlier victory on the 0.526-mile oval in Virginia that could be a few hours from the place he grew up within the Richmond suburb of Chesterfield.
Hamlin leads lively NASCAR Cup Sequence drivers with six victories at Martinsville, however Sunday was his first checkered flag on the 0.526-mile oval in southwest Virginia since March 29, 2015. Hamlin was a frequent contender throughout his 19-race win drought at Martinsville, posting 10 high fives and main 226 laps.
Denny Hamlin drives into Flip 2 throughout a NASCAR Cup Sequence auto race in Martinsville, Va., Sunday, March 30, 2025. (AP Photograph/Chuck Burton)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
After a rash of pit issues all through the primary six races this season (documented ), Josh Berry grew to become the newest sufferer throughout the first stage at Martinsville.
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Berry’s No. 21 Ford was hit within the left rear by Bubba Wallace’s No. 23 Toyota whereas exiting the pits throughout the race’s second warning. Berry’s automotive stalled in Flip 2 after which misplaced two laps for repairs.
It was a troublesome break for Berry, who led 40 laps by staying on monitor throughout the first yellow. He nonetheless managed to guide probably the most laps for Wooden Brothers Racing at Martinsville Speedway since NASCAR Corridor of Famer David Pearson led 180 laps on April 29, 1973. That was the newest victory for the crew at its hometown monitor simply east of its origins in Stuart, Virginia.
Wooden Brothers Racing was honored Sunday morning with a proclamation from Virginia’s Normal Meeting, honoring the crew’s seventy fifth anniversary season.
WILL BE UPDATED
Stage 1 winner: Joey Logano
Stage 2 winner: Denny Hamlin
Subsequent: Sunday, April 6, 3 p.m. ET at Darlington Raceway on FS1