Denny Hamlin’s Darlington Triumph Sparks NASCAR Drama as JGR Fires Back at Critics
In a thrilling display of skill and strategy, Denny Hamlin clinched the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway, securing his second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series victory and igniting a firestorm of reactions across the sport. The 44-year-old veteran, piloting a Carl Edwards throwback scheme for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), outmaneuvered a dominant William Byron in overtime to claim his 56th career win, breaking a tie with Rusty Wallace for 11th on the all-time wins list. But beyond the checkered flag, Hamlin and JGR seized the moment to deliver a bold statement to their doubters, turning a day of racing triumph into a narrative of redemption and resilience.
The race itself was a rollercoaster of momentum shifts. William Byron, starting from pole, led an astonishing 243 of the 293 regulation laps, showcasing his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet’s prowess on the challenging 1.366-mile oval. Yet, Darlington’s notorious dirty air and a late green-flag pit cycle shuffled the deck, opening the door for chaos—and opportunity. Ryan Blaney, with a stunning late-race surge, stormed past Tyler Reddick to take the lead, only for a Kyle Larson wreck—triggered by contact with Bubba Wallace—to force an overtime finish. Enter Hamlin’s pit crew, whose lightning-fast stop vaulted the No. 11 Toyota to the front. With clean air and a flawless restart, Hamlin held off Byron to steal the victory, leaving Blaney to settle for fifth after a rare pit-road stumble.
Post-race, Hamlin didn’t mince words. “There’s two people I really love right now: my pit crew and Kyle Larson,” he quipped, crediting his crew’s clutch performance and Larson’s unintended assist via the caution. The win wasn’t just a personal milestone—it was a defiant response to critics who doubted JGR’s early-season form. Earlier in the race, NASCAR insider Jeff Gluck had tweeted skepticism about JGR’s drivers, pointing to Hamlin in 17th, Christopher Bell in 25th, Ty Gibbs in 27th, and Chase Briscoe in 31st. By the finish, Hamlin stood atop the podium, Bell took third, and Gibbs nabbed ninth—prompting JGR to fire back on social media: “Love you Jeff, but we’re glad this particular post aged like milk.” It was a mic-drop moment that underscored the team’s resurgence.
Hamlin’s hot streak—four top-five finishes in his last five races, including three straight and two wins—marks a dramatic turnaround from a sluggish start to 2025. After struggling until Phoenix, the veteran has rediscovered his groove, positioning himself as a championship contender. JGR owner Joe Gibbs praised Hamlin’s relentless work ethic, noting his dedication in the simulator and his ability to adapt, even at 44. “He’s got a real drive,” Gibbs said, recalling how Hamlin’s Darlington test years ago convinced the team to sign him. Meanwhile, NBA legend Michael Jordan, co-owner of 23XI Racing with Hamlin, lauded his competitive fire: “He’s a very confident driver… his competitive juice is no different than mine. I want him to win a championship so badly.”
As JGR celebrates its fifth win in eight races this season, questions swirl about the team’s ceiling—and Hamlin’s title chances. Next up is Bristol, a track that has historically favored him, where he could chase a rare three-peat akin to teammate Christopher Bell’s earlier feat. For Byron, the loss stings despite his dominance, a reminder of Darlington’s unforgiving nature. For Blaney, a fifth-place finish is bittersweet after a near-miss. But for Hamlin, this victory is more than a trophy—it’s a statement: age is just a number, and the No. 11 team is a force to be reckoned with. Can he carry this momentum to a long-elusive championship? NASCAR fans are on the edge of their seats
