Las Vegas, NV—The South Point 400, NASCAR’s 33rd race of the season and the first event of the Playoffs Round of 8, unfolded in dramatic fashion as Denny Hamlin surged to the win in the final laps, edging out fierce competition. Hamlin, driving the #11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, executed a late-race pass on teammate Chase Briscoe, taking the lead with four laps remaining in the 267-lap contest. Crossing the line with a 1.5-second margin over Kyle Larson, Hamlin’s triumph not only tied him with Kevin Harvick for 10th all-time Cup Series victories, but also guaranteed him a chance to compete for the Bill France Cup at Phoenix Raceway next month.
Race Highlights and Results
Hamlin’s hard-fought victory came after a tense restart that saw him overtake Briscoe, while Larson and Christopher Bell rounded out the podium. The top five finishers included:
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Denny Hamlin (#11) — 1st place
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Kyle Larson (#5) — 2nd place
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Christopher Bell (#20) — 3rd place
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Chase Briscoe (#19) — 4th place
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Tyler Reddick (#45) — 5th place
Joining them in the top ten were Joey Logano, Alex Bowman, Kyle Busch, Ryan Preece, and Brad Keselowski.
Implications for the Playoffs
With the win, Hamlin is locked into the Championship 4 and has momentum heading to the season’s climactic Phoenix event. His strategic driving, strong pit performance, and resilience in late-race restarts showcased his veteran experience and playoff intensity against a field stacked with adversaries.
Fans can look forward to the next Cup Series battle at Talladega, but Hamlin’s triumph in Las Vegas stands out as a defining moment in the 2025 playoff run.
