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Denny Hamlin celebrates a NASCAR Cup Series victory. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver has built one of the most accomplished résumés of the modern NASCAR era.
Denny Hamlin reminded the NASCAR world that he is still one of the sport’s most dangerous closers.
Hamlin’s victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway added another chapter to a career that has quietly become one of the most accomplished of the modern NASCAR era. The Joe Gibbs Racing veteran now owns more than 60 NASCAR Cup Series wins, a résumé that includes multiple Daytona 500 victories and defining performances at some of the sport’s toughest tracks.
Hamlin has spent nearly two decades building a reputation as one of NASCAR’s elite race managers: a driver capable of striking at exactly the right moment when the pressure is highest.
In the wake of his latest win in Las Vegas, here is a look back at five of the greatest victories of Hamlin’s NASCAR career.
2010 Martinsville Speedway
Hamlin’s 2010 season remains one of the most dominant championship pushes of the modern NASCAR era.
During that run, his fall victory at Martinsville Speedway became one of the defining moments of the title fight. Hamlin swept both Martinsville races that season, showcasing his mastery of one of NASCAR’s most demanding short tracks.
The win helped keep Hamlin firmly in control of the championship battle late in the season and highlighted his ability to perform under intense playoff pressure.
Even without capturing the championship that year, Hamlin’s Martinsville dominance in 2010 remains one of the most impressive short-track runs of his career.
2016 Daytona 500
No victory better captures Hamlin’s career than the 2016 Daytona 500.
The finish instantly became one of the most famous moments in NASCAR history. Hamlin charged from fourth place on the final lap and edged Martin Truex Jr. at the finish line by just 0.010 seconds, the closest finish ever recorded in the Daytona 500.
The dramatic photo finish delivered Hamlin his first victory in “The Great American Race” and immediately placed the moment among the most iconic finishes the sport has ever seen.
Nearly a decade later, the race remains one of the most replayed highlights in NASCAR history.
2017 Southern 500 at Darlington
Few victories in NASCAR carry the prestige of the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
Known as “The Track Too Tough to Tame,” Darlington demands patience, precision and experience. Traits that have long defined Hamlin’s driving style.
His victory in the 2017 Southern 500 added one of NASCAR’s crown-jewel trophies to his résumé and reinforced his reputation as one of the sport’s most complete competitors.
Winning at Darlington is a badge of honor among drivers, and Hamlin’s triumph there remains one of the standout moments of his career.
2019 Daytona 500
Hamlin returned to Daytona in 2019 and delivered another signature victory in the sport’s biggest race.
The win marked his second Daytona 500 triumph, launching the start of one of the most successful stretches of his career.
Winning the Daytona 500 even once can define a driver’s legacy. Hamlin’s repeated success at Daytona established him as one of the premier superspeedway racers of his generation.
2020 Daytona 500
Hamlin followed his 2019 victory with an even more historic achievement the following season.
His win in the 2020 Daytona 500 made him the first driver since Sterling Marlin in the mid-1990s to win back-to-back Daytona 500s, a remarkable accomplishment in one of NASCAR’s most unpredictable races.
The performance further cemented Hamlin’s reputation for delivering in the sport’s biggest moments.
A Career That Keeps Growing
Hamlin’s victory Sunday in Las Vegas serves as the latest reminder that his NASCAR legacy is still evolving.
Now deep into his Cup Series career, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver continues to add wins while also balancing his role as co-owner of 23XI Racing alongside Michael Jordan.
Few drivers have managed to remain competitive at the highest level for as long as Hamlin has. And with victories still coming — including the latest one in Las Vegas — the list of defining moments in his career may not be finished yet.
Maggie MacKenzie Maggie MacKenzie covers NASCAR for Heavy.com. She previously worked for NASCAR.com, where she reported, wrote, and edited race-weekend coverage and traveled to key events throughout the season. She has more than ten years of experience in sports media and is based in Boston, Massachusetts. More about Maggie MacKenzie
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