Denny Hamlin Wins Back-to-Back at Dover Motor Speedway in 2025 NASCAR Event

Published On: July 21, 2025

Denny Hamlin Wins Back-to-Back at Dover Motor Speedway in 2025 NASCAR Event

Denny Hamlin put on a show of defensive driving at Dover Motor Speedway, securing his fourth win of 2025 in the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400. The victory marked his second consecutive win at the track, making it extra special for the veteran driver, who celebrated his 58th career Cup Series victory.

Defensive Driving Secures Hamlin’s Victory

Hamlin faced a significant challenge after his final pit stop, when he was left with tires that were several laps older than those of his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Christopher Bell, who began to close in on the leader. With the looming threat of rain and the race nearing its final laps, Hamlin skillfully used his car to block Bell’s progress.

By making his car wide, Hamlin was able to disrupt the flow of clean air to Bell’s car, forcing him into dirty air and slowing his momentum.

Hamlin held on long enough to be in the lead when rain started to fall, but the downpour was brief, allowing NASCAR to dry the track and resume racing with 13 laps to go. Hamlin faced another challenge after the restart, as Bell attempted to pass him once more, but Bell spun out on turn 4.

However, the battle wasn’t over yet, as another teammate, Chase Briscoe, came charging with fresh tires after the red flag, moving up through the field quickly.

Briscoe gave Hamlin a run for his money, getting close to Hamlin on the final restart, but he couldn’t clear him before losing momentum just before the white flag. That break allowed Hamlin to pull away and finish strong, securing the victory in overtime.

Hamlin’s Continued Success

In an interview with TNT Sports, Hamlin expressed how special the win was for him, especially considering his previous struggles at Dover early in his career. “This is a place that I have not been very good at for the first half of my career. And to have back-to-back over the last few years is amazing,” Hamlin said.

He credited his success to learning from the greats, such as teammate Martin Truex Jr. and seven-time Dover winner Jimmie Johnson.

Top Finishers and Playoff Implications

Chase Briscoe finished second, followed by Alex Bowman, Kyle Larson, and Ty Gibbs rounding out the top five. The remainder of the top 10 included Chase Elliott, Bubba Wallace, Ryan Blaney, Chris Buescher, and Brad Keselowski.

Bubba Wallace’s seventh-place finish was especially important, as it extended his points lead over the playoff cut line, giving him a 16-point cushion with just five races remaining in the regular season.

Meanwhile, Ty Dillon, who has been a surprise contender in the In-Season Challenge, continued his Cinderella run by securing a spot in the final round.

Dillon, who was involved in a close battle with John Hunter Nemechek throughout the race, gained the advantage when he received the free pass after the first overtime caution. Dillon will now compete against Ty Gibbs for a $1 million prize next weekend at the Brickyard 400.