Denny Hamlin, a Joe Gibbs Racing star, ended a decade-long winless streak at Martinsville Speedway, holding off teammate Christopher Bell in his home state. The victory marked Hamlin’s sixth triumph at the 0.526-mile oval and first since March 2015.
Driving a Camry with a new setup, Hamlin led 274 of the final laps after taking the lead from Chase Elliott. With the 55th victory of his career, Hamlin tied NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace for 11th on the career list.
Hamlin’s crew chief, Chris Gayle, who joined the team this season, played a crucial role in the win. The new arrangement was a surprise to Hamlin, but he praised Gayle for making changes that paid off.
Bell finished second after starting from the pole position, while Bubba Wallace took third as Toyotas swept the top three spots. The Chevrolets of Elliott and Kyle Larson rounded out the top five.
Hamlin’s win came amidst a busy day at Martinsville, with multiple accidents and incidents. However, it was a sweet victory for Hamlin, who loves to dominate at his home track.
The Cup Series will return next Sunday at Darlington Raceway, where teams will compete in a throwback weekend featuring vintage paint schemes and crew uniforms.
Source: https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/story/_/id/44470670/denny-hamlin-ends-10-year-drought-martinsville-speedway