A perfectly executed stop by the Joe Gibbs Racing pit crew during overtime restart propelled Denny Hamlin to a dramatic NASCAR Cup Series win at Darlington Raceway.
Held on Sunday, April 6, the Goodyear 400 marked the eighth event of the 2025 season and featured 38 entries battling for supremacy on one of NASCAR’s most historic tracks.
Driving the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Denny Hamlin held off William Byron and Christopher Bell during the final laps to claim a surprise Cup Series win at Darlington Raceway, nailing his second consecutive victory following Martinsville win last week.
The 2025 Goodyear 400 began at 3:00 PM ET and lasted three hours, 21 minutes, and 14 seconds. From the outset it was evident that Darlington’s unique challenges—its abrasive surface and narrow turns—would test the drivers’ abilities to manage tire wear and maintain control.
William Byron emerged as a dominant force early in the race, leading an impressive 243 of the 297 laps. His performance showcased his mastery of the track and his ability to maintain a blistering pace against fierce competition.
However, despite Byron’s dominance in the No.24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, the unpredictable nature of the race ensured that victory would not come easily.
As the laps wound down, Tyler Reddick found himself battling Ryan Blaney for the lead. Blaney capitalized on Reddick’s fading lap times due to older tires and executed a bold pass in Turns 1 and 2 with only five laps to go.
However, this maneuver led to contact between the two cars sending Reddick into the wall and triggering a chain reaction that involved Kyle Larson. Larson’s spin into the inside wall brought out a caution flag, setting up a pivotal moment in the race.
The ensuing caution proved to be a game-changer. All lead-lap cars headed to pit road for fresh tires in preparation for an overtime restart and it was here that Denny Hamlin’s Joe Gibbs Racing pit crew demonstrated their exceptional skill and precision.
Hamlin entered pit road in third place but emerged as the leader thanks to an impeccably executed stop that lasted just 8.3 seconds.
Observers noted innovative techniques employed by Hamlin’s jackman, such as slinging the jack across his back to save time—a move that contributed significantly to Hamlin’s rapid pit stop.
With fresh tires and a clear track ahead, Hamlin lined up for the restart alongside William Byron and launched his #11 Toyota flawlessly from the outside lane when the green flag dropped.
He surged ahead of Byron and held off challenges from both Byron and Christopher Bell in overtime to claim NASCAR Cup Series win at Darlington Raceway by a margin of 0.597 seconds.
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The win marked Hamlin’s fifth career victory at Darlington and his 56th overall in Cup series, moving him into sole possession of 11th place on NASCAR’s all-time wins list.
“There’s two people I really love right now: my pit crew and Kyle Larson,” the 44-year-old Virginian said. “Had a little assist there, so thank you.
“Pit crew just did an amazing job. They won it last week [at Martinsville]. They won it this week. It’s all about them.”
While Hamlin celebrated his triumph, other drivers faced mixed fortunes during the race. William Byron’s second-place finish underscored his strength throughout much of the Goodyear 400 but left him narrowly missing out on victory despite his commanding performance.
Christopher Bell secured third place, adding another strong result to his season tally. Tyler Reddick rebounded from his late-race incident to finish fourth while Ryan Blaney rounded out the top five after his bold move for the lead earlier in the race.
Kyle Larson endured a particularly challenging day at Darlington. After sliding into the inside wall on Lap 3 due to contact with Bubba Wallace, Larson spent hours in the garage as his team worked tirelessly to repair his car.
The No.5 Hendricks Motorsports Chevrolet eventually returned to action but finished 37th after falling 161 laps behind—a stark contrast to his previous success at Darlington in 2023 when he won the Southern 500.
The Goodyear 400 also featured moments of intense competition among other drivers in the field. Bubba Wallace showed flashes of speed but struggled with consistency during key stretches of the race finishing down in 2st.
Kevin Harvick navigated through traffic effectively but lacked the pace needed to challenge for a podium finish. Joey Logano battled handling issues throughout the event, limiting his ability to contend for victory.
The NASCAR Cup Series moves to the famed Bristol Motor Speedway high banks next weekend for Sunday’s Food City 500.
