MARTINSVILLE, Va.

Denny Hamlin returned to the winner’s circle at Martinsville Speedway, ending an excruciating 10-year winless drought on this beloved track. Hamlin, a Virginia native from the Richmond suburb of Chesterfield, celebrated his resurgence by holding off his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Christopher Bell in a thrilling finish.

This victory marks Hamlin's sixth career win at Martinsville, making him the active Cup driver with the most victories at the legendary 0.526-mile oval. His last win at this venue was back on March 29, 2015, a dry spell that has finally come to an end with his first victory under the guidance of new crew chief Chris Gayle, who joined Hamlin's No. 11 team this season.

After a significant overhaul of their setup, Hamlin's Camry felt reminiscent of his past successes. He dominated the latter part of the race, leading a remarkable 274 laps after seizing control from Chase Elliott.

"This win means the world to me," Hamlin, now with 55 career victories—tying him with NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace—said after the race. "The team approached this race differently than in years past, and it paid off tremendously."

In an unexpected shake-up, Gayle took over as crew chief for the seasoned Chris Gabehart, who transitioned to an executive role after a successful partnership with Hamlin that yielded 23 wins from 2019 to 2024. Gayle acknowledged the surprise of the change and its potential impact on Hamlin, who had reservations about starting anew late in his career.

“I understood it was a shock for Denny since they were so successful together. But sometimes change can lead to better results,” Gayle noted. Hamlin seems to have adapted well to this change, expressing confidence in Gayle's leadership during their journey together.

The race concluded with a strong showing for Joe Gibbs Racing as Bell finished second, marking his third win of the 2025 season, while Bubba Wallace secured third place, leading a Toyota sweep of the top three spots. Hamlin's success came after carefully navigating several restarts and intense challenges from teammates and competitors alike.

In other race drama, a multicar accident involving Toyota drivers Ty Gibbs and Tyler Reddick drew attention during the race, while Joey Logano's collision with Chase Briscoe led to heated exchanges regarding racing conduct.

Bubba Wallace, driving for the 23XI Racing team, reflected on his performance, highlighting his struggles on restarts. “My restarts were terrible; I need to work on that,” Wallace said, eager to find more speed for future races.

Post-race, Erik Jones faced disqualification due to failing to meet the minimum weight requirement, which significantly impacted his standings for the day.

Josh Berry, who had led the most laps for Wood Brothers Racing, faced disappointment after a pit road incident but managed to lead 40 laps in his team’s 75th-anniversary celebration.

Next week, the Cup Series heads to the historic Darlington Raceway for a “throwback weekend,” featuring vintage paint schemes and crew uniforms—a perfect opportunity for drivers to showcase their heritage. This race promises to revive memories of classic NASCAR moments while fostering excitement for both fans and competitors alike.

Stay tuned for what should be an exhilarating continuation of the NASCAR season!