August 12, 2024

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin ended Sunday's Cook Out 400 in the second position with a damaged car. Starting from the pole position, Hamlin displayed he had one of the best cars in the field right from the beginning since he led the opening 45 laps of the first stage. Christopher Bell would pass Hamlin, who would end the first stage in second and score stage points. In the second stage, Hamlin would continue to run in the Top 5 while battling Bell and Daniel Suarez for the lead. Even as the field shuffled around during green flag pit stops, Hamlin ended the second stage in the third position, gaining more stage points. In the final stage, Hamlin was one of the top contenders for the win, eventually inheriting it through green flag pit stops late before Austin Dillon passed him. Once the final caution of the race occurred, Hamlin lined behind Dillon and Joey Logano for overtime. While Dillon made contact with Logano, which sent him to the wall, Hamlin attempted to overtake Dillon for the win but was too late, as Dillon hooked Hamlin's car. NASCAR officially credited Hamlin with his third runner-up result of the season. With the Cup Series visiting Michigan next, Hamlin will be one to watch as he placed sixth or better in each of the last six Cup events at the site.--Sean Engel - RotoBaller
Source: NASCAR.com