Denny Hamlin clinches third straight NASCAR Cup win at Pocono, ties for ninth all‑time

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin captured his eighth victory at Pocono Raceway in the Great American Getaway 400, marking his 64th career NASCAR Cup Series win. The win moved Hamlin into sole possession of ninth on the sport’s all‑time wins list, overtaking the late Kyle Busch. Hamlin became the first driver in his 21‑year full‑time career to win three consecutive Cup races – Nashville, Michigan and now Pocono – and the fifth driver ever to win three straight events from pole position.

Hamlin led 28 of the 160 laps and held off Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing by 1.678 seconds. Reddick, who still leads the championship, saw his advantage shrink to 19 points with ten races remaining in the regular season. Hamlin praised his team, saying, “It’s simply special here… we come to the racetrack every week knowing we’ve got a great shot to win.” Reddick called the loss “a bummer” but noted the points earned were not enough to extend his lead.

Strategic fuel‑saving played a key role; teammate Christopher Bell attempted a long‑run on the final laps but ran out of fuel, finishing 26th. The top three were completed by William Byron in third, while John Hunter Nemechek posted his best finish of the year in fourth.