Denny Hamlin wins Bristol Night Race to close out the Round of 16

He started the race second and he ended it in first. Denny Hamlin took the win at the Bristol Night Race in dominant fashion in the final stage. When Hamlin got the lead, he held onto it and didn’t let it go. NASCAR Playoffs, elimination, none of that mattered for Hamlin who entered the race almost 50 points above the cutline.

Instead of worrying, Denny Hamlin went on to grab his 51st win in the Cup Series. He moves on to the Round of 12, not like he needed the win to do that. This race started out with Christopher Bell in front. Bell swept both stages, but the final stage belonged to Hamlin.

The final leg of this 500-lap race, Hamlin let it rip and grabbed another win at Bristol. NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs now move onto the Round of 12, starting at Texas.

Hamlin gets that #NASCARPlayoffs victory in 2023!

He wins at @ItsBristolBaby for the third time! pic.twitter.com/AMU45fmMd7

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 17, 2023

142 laps led on the night, Denny Hamlin has taken the next step to becoming a Cup Series champion. He also advances to the next round with his two 23XI Racing drivers. Both Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace are moving on to Texas and the next three races of the playoffs.

This was a Toyota-dominant night. Bell led a lot of laps, Ty Gibbs led a lot of laps, and Denny Hamlin closed it down in the end. Kyle Larson was fast tonight too, but he wasn’t able to get his way up to Hamlin to challenge him for the win.

Denny Hamlin caps off strong Round of 16 with a win

At Darlington, Hamlin arguably had the best car before he finished P23. Then he went to Kansas and finished second to Tyler Reddick. Finally, he wins at Bristol. Given how much he did in these three races, and how fast he’s been, he has to be the favorite moving forward.

Denny Hamlin has passed Ned Jarrett and Junior Johnson on the all-time wins list. Next up is Lee Petty at 54 and Rusty Wallace at 55. Kevin Harvick and that magic 60-win number are 10th all-time. He might move on up that list before the playoffs are over.

There is a different feeling to this postseason right now. Denny Hamlin is fast. Kyle Larson is fast. We have a great playoff picture setting itself up to give us a show at Phoenix.

Joey Logano, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Kevin Harvick, and Michael McDowell were all eliminated. Logano had bad luck tonight and found himself out of the race early.

Denny Hamlin is a winner at Bristol once again. He can’t stop picking up Crown Jewel wins in the Cup Series. On to Texas and the Round of 12.