NASCAR
Denny Hamlin Wins Michigan by 11 Seconds for 63rd Cup Triumph
BROOKLYN, Mich. – 39 laps, 11 seconds, and a 63rd career win after starting last. This was just a taste of the roller coaster Sunday for Denny Hamlin at Michigan International Speedway. The polesitter had to roll off from the rear after a flat tire in practice. Hamlin never quit though, dug in, then fought and clawed his way forward all day. Hamlin now owns the last two Irish Hills trophies, wins the last two weeks, and ties former teammate Kyle Busch with 63 Cup victories.
It may have taken 15 races, but points leader Tyler Reddick finally picked up a first stage win of 2026 in Stage 1. Reddick would go from hero to zero in an instant, however. The No. 45 took a pair of big hits after a restart stack up led to him and others spinning on lap 83. Reddick recorded his first DNF of the season in his worst result so far. Also spun around in this wreck was Denny Hamlin, one of many with nowhere to go. The second stage would soon go to Chase Elliott, following up a solid fourth-place run from Stage 1.
There’s a stack-up on the restart, and multiple cars are collected! pic.twitter.com/PWfgiYKVMk
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 7, 2026
Elliott’s apparent march to victory came to a violent end with the No. 9 slamming the outside wall on lap 149. Elliott got loose inside of Christopher Bell, and both drivers made massive impacts that destroyed their cars. The SAFER Barrier was also damaged enough here to warrant a 20-minute red flag for repairs.
Additional angles of the incident involving the Nos. 9 and 20. pic.twitter.com/GFRM3t5o63
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 7, 2026
Another nine-car melee would halt the race just inside of 50 laps left. Coming off of turn four, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. got turned by Michael McDowell and many others piled in. This would be a NASCAR Michigan record 11th caution on the afternoon.
Just after the next restart, Denny Hamlin took the lead and turned on the afterburners. The No. 11 Toyota continued to gap the pack and left everyone in the dust. Hamlin soon amassed a very fitting 11-second advantage. Once Hamlin took the checkers, his burnout featured a Kyle Busch flag, paying tribute to his fallen friend and competitor.
For Kyle. pic.twitter.com/wsRpizRtfh
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 7, 2026
“This Joe Gibbs team just keeps giving me amazing racecars,” Hamlin said. “This National Debt Toyota, it’s just amazing. At the last run there, just hammering down. Had a few good restarts, and once we got to the lead, I was going to lay it out, all I had.”
“The offseason, it was rough for me, it was rough for the NASCAR family, we lost a lot of people. This week we lost Gentleman Ned [Jarrett], the original badass of the 11. We’re still thinking of Kyle, Samantha, Brexton, Lennix. You know, just an unbelievable feeling to be able to strap in every week, and I don’t take it for granted, this opportunity that I’m in. I just love we’re making the best of it.”
Rallying to second in the closing laps was Michigan native Erik Jones, beating out Bubba Wallace, Kyle Larson, and Carson Hocevar. The rest of Michigan’s top-10 were: Daniel Suarez, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Chris Buescher, and Chase Briscoe.
Thanks to Reddick’s horrible result and Hamlin winning, the championship lead is down to 51 points. This is the closest anyone has been to touching Reddick in the standings for several weeks.
Updated top-10 on the #NASCAR Chase standings after @MISpeedway, @dennyhamlin draws to within 51 points of @TylerReddick for the championship lead. pic.twitter.com/jYiC5Ui1lX
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) June 7, 2026
From one fast oval to The Tricky Triangle, NASCAR now heads to Pocono Raceway. The Pennsylvania green flag will fly Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on Prime Video, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. The Great American Getaway 400 has the chance to be another stunning performance for Denny Hamlin at his best track.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo credits to Sean Gardner/Getty Images
