Denny Hamlin Controls Michigan Race, Clinches Third Cup Series Win

Denny Hamlin captured his third NASCAR Cup Series win of the season at Michigan International Speedway on June 8. He drove the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota and edged out the rest of the field in a race that turned into a fuel strategy battle.

Hamlin led just five of the event’s 200 laps but took the checkered flag with a 1.099-second lead. This win marks his third career victory at Michigan and pushes his all-time Cup Series total to 57. His victory not only adds to his impressive resume but also boosts his momentum as the series moves into the heart of the summer calendar. Hamlin’s victory is a testament to his strategic driving and race management.

Chris Buescher brought home a strong second-place finish driving the No. 17 RFK Racing Ford. Ty Gibbs was next across the line, placing third, while Bubba Wallace and Kyle Larson rounded out the top five.

William Byron was the race’s dominant driver for most of the afternoon. He led a race-high 98 laps and won one of the stages, but his No. 24 Chevrolet ran out of fuel on the penultimate lap, ending his hopes for a win. This bust late in the race echoes moments in motorsport where fuel strategy dramatically alters outcomes, similar to recent high-profile incidents in racing.

The race had its share of drama, especially on lap 67 when a serious multi-car incident ended Alex Bowman’s day. Bowman, piloting the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, crashed head-on into the Turn 2 wall after colliding with Austin Cindric and Cole Custer.

The wreck also swept up Chase Briscoe and Daniel Suárez. After being checked out in the infield care center, Bowman was released and cleared.

Local favorite Carson Hocevar led for 32 laps and looked poised for a breakthrough performance at his home track. However, with just 19 laps remaining, a flat tire forced Hocevar to pit and took him out of contention for the victory.

This disappointment came as Hocevar tried to collect his first Cup Series win in front of Michigan fans. Stage wins were split between Chris Buescher and William Byron during the day.

Fuel mileage became a critical component as the final laps wound down, catching out several drivers and shuffling the finishing order. Byron was not the only front-runner to face late-race trouble, but no one could match Hamlin’s well-timed charge to the finish.

With the Michigan round complete, teams now look ahead to the next event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule. The Viva Mexico 250, set for Sunday at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, will make history as the Cup Series’ debut race in Mexico. This landmark race could prove as pivotal to the series as key moments in other circuit racing events have been, such as the recent F1 Monaco Grand Prix news.

Green flag is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET. Fans and teams alike are watching closely to see who will step up in the following weeks.