LAS VEGAS – Turns out 21 was Denny Hamlin’s lucky number in Vegas.
After finally getting the first Las Vegas Motor Speedway victory of his NASCAR Cup Series career on his 21st try, Hamlin is on an undeniable hot streak he just might ride all the way to his long-sought first season championship on the top circuit.
Hamlin finally broke through by holding off reigning Cup Series champion Chase Elliott on Sunday night to kick off the second round of the playoffs with his second win in September. Three weeks after Hamlin got his first victory of the season in the playoff opener at South Carolina’s Darlington Raceway, he led 137 laps in the No. 1 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, including the final 39.
After a season of frustrating results and a 17-year career filled with closes calls in the title chase, Hamlin has emerged as a serious contender to win it all once again. He is just 14 points behind Kyle Larson in the points standings, and he’ll have no pressure heading into the high-stakes upcoming races at Alabama’s Talladega Superspeedway and on the Roval course at North Carolina’s Charlotte Motor Speedway with his ticket already punched for the third round by his Vegas victory.
“It feels so good to win in Vegas,” Hamlin said. “Last couple of times I’ve been close but just didn’t have the right breaks. Great to hold those guys off.”