Denny Hamlin captured his second victory of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, crossing the finish line at Nashville Superspeedway for the 62nd win of his career.
A Penalty That Didn’t Stop Him
Starting from the pole for the Cracker Barrel 400, Hamlin jumped the start and incurred a drive‑through penalty. He admitted the mistake, saying he didn’t wait long enough, but used the setback as fuel to rally.
The race boiled down to a four‑lap shootout that featured Hamlin, his Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Chase Briscoe and Christopher Bell. Hamlin emerged victorious, with Bell finishing second and Briscoe third.
In the closing laps, Chase Elliott and Tyler Reddick collided, with Elliott being pushed loose by Ryan Blaney, adding drama to the finale.
Championship Implications
The win moves Hamlin within one race of tying the late Kyle Busch for the all‑time Cup Series victories record, underscoring the competitiveness of the season and keeping the championship battle wide open.