This weekend the NASCAR Cup Series headed to the heart of Virginia for the Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway. Denny Hamlin started on the pole with William Byron to his outside. Hamlin was able to clear for the lead handily and settled in about a half second ahead of the leaders. Ryan Blaney was on the charge making his way into the top-10.
The leaders got to the tail of the field on lap three, John Hunter Nemechek would hold up Hamlin allowing Byron to get by for the lead. Hamlin was able to get back to the lead in quick work as they worked through traffic. Hamlin lapped up to 22nd place before Nemechek got into Cody Ware to bring out the first caution of the day ending the stage 3 laps early.
Stage 1 Results:
- Denny Hamlin
- William Byron
- Josh Berry
- Ty Gibbs
- Austin Cindric
- Shane Van Gisbergen
- Joey Logano
- Ryan Blaney
- Tyler Reddick
- Ryan Preece
Denny Hamlin was able to win the race off pit road to maintain control of the race as we started the second stage. Kyle Busch received an uncontrolled tire penalty after he launched a tire into Connor Zilisch’s Chevrolet. Hamlin maintained the lead on the restart as Byron fell back to sixth place on the outside after he was unable to get the lead. The first caution for cause came out on lap 104 as Gragson spun off the bumper of Allmendinger’s car. Chris Buescher was pitting for an issue as the caution flew so he only lost a lap. Kyle Larson, Brad Keselowski and others further back would pit under the caution for adjustments.
Hamlin led the field back to the green on lap 112 with Ty Gibbs to his inside. Gibbs let Hamlin shade down into turn one to keep the joe Gibbs Racing cars in control of the race. Ryan Blaney continued his march towards the front making his way into the top five by lap 133. At this point the top-five consisted of two JGR cars and all three of the main Penske cars. Hamlin made it back to the tail of the field as we hit lap 148. Larson was able to crack the top-10 on his fresher tires. Hamlin was able to win the second stage by two seconds, meaning that in back to back weeks the stages have been swept.
Stage Two Results:
- Denny Hamlin
- Ty Gibbs
- Joey Logano
- Ryan Blaney
- William Byron
- Austin Cindric
- Tyler Reddick
- Shane Van Gisbergen
- Kyle Larson
- Josh Berry
During stage break pit stops William Byron’s crew would have significant issues on the left side tires miring him deep in the field. Hamlin would lead the race off pit road over Joey Logano and the two would lead the field to the start of the final stage with teammates Gibbs and Cindric directly behind them. Hamlin was able to maintain control of the race. Josh Berry had a moment that put him the outside of three wide and cost him a spot in the top-10. Shane Van Gisbergen to this point had been able to hold onto the top ten all race as well as getting stage points in both stages and continued to be the best Trackhouse entry as he has been for the majority of the season. showing remarkable improvement on ovals and solid pace overall as both his team and Chevrolet as a whole have struggled to start the year.
Blaney moved into second place as we crossed lap 258 to go as Gibbs tires started to fall off. Chase Elliott was the first of the leaders to pit on lap 262. As they tried to make a alternate strategy call to make time on the front runners, Van Gisbergen would be the next of the leaders to pit on lap 269. Larson was the next to pit on lap 283, this would finally set off the majority of green flag pit stops. Hamlin pitted from the lead on lap 290. After pit stops cycled Chase Elliott had amassed a four second lead over Van Gisbergen and Hamlin.
Ty Dillon blew a tire with 100 laps to go but was able to make it to pit road. Hamlin was able to get to and past Elliott with 92 laps to go. A caution for debris flew with 89 laps to go setting up pit stops and saving the cars who pitted early. Hamlin was able to maintain the lead off the pit stop and led the field to green with Chastain who stayed out on his inside. Melee ensued on the restart as Bubba Wallace got into Carson Hocevar going into turn three. turning Hocevar and causing a log jam that ended Wallace’s day and damaging several other cars. This set up another restart with Ross Chastain in the lead and Chase Elliott on his outside.
Elliott was able to pass Chastain on the outside after several laps and take the lead of the race after several laps of working him over. Hamlin made contact with Blaney on the exit of turn four and put him into the wall but he was able to continue. Hamlin moved into second place but struggled to close the gap on Elliott as they bore down on lapped traffic. Hamlin would trim at the lead lap after lap as him and Elliott worked their way through traffic. However it was not to be Hamlin’s day as Elliott was able to hold on to mark his and Chevrolet’s first win of the season.
Top-10 Results:
- Chase Elliott
- Denny Hamlin
- Joey Logano
- Ty Gibbs
- William Byron
- Ryan Blaney
- Christopher Bell
- Austin Cindric
- Kyle Larson
- Josh Berry
Main Photo Credit: @TeamHendrick on Twitter
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