Hamlin climbs back to win
Denny Hamlin overcame a penalty to take victory in the NASCAR Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway — a comeback win that flipped the weekend narrative for him. The result underlines Hamlin’s pace and pit‑strategy resilience. (x.com)
The Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was held on March 15, 2026, with Christopher Bell on pole and Denny Hamlin starting alongside him on the front row. (nascar.com) Hamlin led a race-high 134 of 267 laps, took the lead on Lap 219 and controlled the final 49 laps to the checkered flag, finishing 0.502 seconds ahead of Chase Elliott. (lvms.com) The result was Hamlin’s first Cup victory of the 2026 season and the 61st of his career, a mark that moved him to 10th on NASCAR’s all-time wins list after passing Kevin Harvick. (nascar.com) Chase Elliott finished second and William Byron third; Christopher Bell won Stage 1, Byron claimed Stage 2, and Kyle Larson led 62 laps during the race. (nascar.com) Tyler Reddick — winner of the first three races this season — faded to 13th in the final run but kept a 61-point lead in the series over Bubba Wallace and a 67-point cushion over Ryan Blaney. (nascar.com) The Las Vegas victory was Hamlin’s third at the speedway and his first checkered flag since the death of his father in late December, a moment he shared with family members in victory lane. (lvms.com)
