Denny Hamlin Claims Thrilling Victory at Darlington’s Goodyear 400

DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) — Denny Hamlin captured a dramatic victory at the Goodyear 400 on Sunday, navigating a thrilling overtime finish at Darlington Raceway. After a series of strategic pit stops, Hamlin emerged from the pits in front and held off fierce competition from William Byron to secure his 56th career NASCAR win.

The pivotal moment came during the final laps, as Kyle Larson spun out just after Ryan Blaney wrested the lead from Tyler Reddick with three laps remaining. This incident led to a caution flag and the subsequent overtime finish, giving Hamlin the opportunity he needed.

“I knew I had to hit all my marks coming into the pits. I focused on that and let my pit crew do their job,” said Hamlin, reflecting on the importance of the crew’s efforts. Emerging first from the pits, he chose the outside lane for the restart, speeding away from Byron to claim victory.

This latest win marks Hamlin’s second consecutive victory, following his recent success at Martinsville, and his fifth at Darlington, the most of any active driver. “When you think about 56 wins, that’s a huge deal,” said Joe Gibbs, Hamlin’s longtime car owner. “He’s showing he can still compete at a high level.”

For much of the race, Byron dominated, leading for the first 243 laps and aiming to become the first driver in nearly 25 years to lead every lap en route to victory. However, he found himself shuffled back during the final green-flag pit stops, ultimately finishing in second place. “It was looking like it was going to be a perfect race, and we were going to lead every lap,” Byron lamented. “But we lost control, and it was too late to get back up there.”

Ryan Blaney and Tyler Reddick rounded out the top five, with Blaney expressing disappointment after losing the lead so close to the finish. “I thought we had the race won until the caution came out,” he said.

In contrast, Kyle Larson faced a tough outing after slamming into the inside wall on the third lap. Despite returning to the track on lap 164, Larson finished last in 37th position. “I had high hopes for a strong performance, but it was a day to forget,” Larson stated.

Former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle made an appearance at the event, driving the pace car for the race. Biffle, who was the last driver to achieve back-to-back Cup Series victories at Darlington in 2006 and 2007, also took time to assist in rescue efforts during Hurricane Helene, earning him the Myers Brothers Humanitarian Award for his contributions.

As the series moves forward, racers will head to Bristol on April 13, followed by a traditional Easter break. With momentum on his side, Hamlin looks forward to continuing his winning streak.