On April 1st, Virginia native Denny Hamlin surged ahead during a green-white-checker shootout, clinching victory in the NASCAR Cup Series’ Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway on Sunday night.
Following Bubba Wallace’s caution-inducing spin of Kyle Larson with just two laps remaining and Martin Truex Jr. appearing poised for victory, the 16 lead-lap cars opted to pit. Hamlin emerged as the frontrunner, with Joey Logano and Larson trailing closely behind.
Hailing from Chesterfield, Va., Hamlin expertly widened the gap between himself and Logano and Larson, ultimately securing the win by a mere 0.269 seconds.
Hamlin’s victory marked his 53rd career win, securing his fifth triumph at Richmond. Truex and Chase Elliott rounded out the top five.
In his milestone 300th Cup start, Chris Buescher piloted his No. 17 Ford to a ninth-place finish.
Despite Larson and Elliott of Hendrick Motorsports securing the front row, the 400-lap event faced interruptions and a brief delay due to rain. Following track-drying efforts that rendered the three-quarter-mile track raceable albeit damp, NASCAR implemented an unexpected strategy by introducing wet weather tires. These tires, previously utilized in the prior season’s All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway, added an intriguing twist to the race dynamics.
Larson showcased dominance once more reminiscent of his performance in the neighboring North Carolina race. His No. 5 Chevrolet commanded the lead on the damp short track, with Wallace trailing closely behind as the field approached a non-competitive pit stop.
Following an incident where Josh Berry spun Daniel Suarez, the remaining laps of Stage 1 were completed under the third caution, concluding at Lap 70. Larson clinched the first-place position, securing the maximum bonus points.
Notably, the most significant mover within the 36-car field was Berry, piloting the No. 4 Ford previously associated with Kevin Harvick.
At 33 years old, Berry, a seasoned short-track veteran with years of experience driving for JR Motorsports and co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr., commenced the race from the 30th position. Remarkably, by Lap 102, he surged all the way to third place.
Following a strategic move of short-pitting, Truex’s No. 19 Toyota ascended to the lead and maintained it consistently, capitalizing on an opportune caution on Lap 170 triggered by Kyle Busch’s contact with the wall.
Truex proceeded to secure victory in the second segment, finishing ahead by 0.723 seconds over Berry and Logano. This marked his first stage win of the season and his sixth career triumph at Richmond.
