Denny Hamlin Wins at Bristol, Denies Matt DiBenedetto a Statement Victory

BRISTOL, TENNESSEE – AUGUST 17: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Freight Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 17, 2019, in Bristol, Tennessee. Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

BRISTOL, Tenn. – The first thing Denny Hamlin did after winning Saturday’s Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway was apologizing to the man he beat to the finish line in the 24th Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race of the season.

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Matt DiBenedetto Scores Second Top-Five Result of 2019

LOUDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE – JULY 19: Matt DiBenedetto, driver of the #95 Procore Toyota, qualifies for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 19, 2019, in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

An astute pit call by crew chief Mike Wheeler halfway through Sunday’s Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 got track position for Matt DiBenedetto.

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Contrarian Strategy Gets a Solid Finish for Denny Hamlin

Denny Hamlin, the driver of the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota, looks on during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on February 23, 2018, in Hampton, Georgia. Photo – Jerry Markland/Getty Images

When race leader – and eventual winner – Kevin Harvick came to pit road on lap 212 of Sunday’s Folds of Honor Quik Trip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano stayed on the track. Continue reading

Victory for Hamlin Means Confronting Lobster Phobia

Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota, stands on the grid during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series ISM Connect 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 22, 2017, in Loudon, New Hampshire. Photo – Tim Bradbury/Getty Images

If Denny Hamlin wins Sunday’s ISM Connect 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (2 pm ET on NBCSN), he’ll have to face his fear.

Not on the race track, mind you. In Victory Lane. Continue reading

Denny Hamlin Acknowledges Penalties were Justified

Denny Hamlin, the driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, walks in the garage area during Practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 8, 2017, in Richmond, Virginia. Photo – Sean Gardner/Getty Images

It took a little more than 24 hours for Denny Hamlin’s euphoria to turn sour.

On Sunday night at Darlington Raceway, one of the most important tracks to the driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Hamlin won the Bojangles’ Southern 500 to complete a sweep of the NASCAR XFINITY Series and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at the Lady in Black. Continue reading