BROOKLYN, MI — Denny Hamlin had plenty on his mind this Father’s Day weekend — a baby on the way, a pending lawsuit against NASCAR, and a Cup Series win streak to defend. Somehow, he balanced it all with a clutch performance at Michigan International Speedway, securing his third victory of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season and the 57th of his career.

The win came in dramatic fashion. With just four laps to go in the 200-lap event, Hamlin dove under William Byron and pulled ahead in the No. 11 Toyota, stretching his lead to over a second at the checkered flag. Chris Buescher finished second, while Ty Gibbs matched a season-best third-place result. Bubba Wallace and Kyle Larson rounded out the top five.

“There’s a lot going on,” Hamlin said after the race. “It’s definitely a full plate right now.”

Indeed, the 44-year-old wasn’t just racing for points. His fiancée, Jordan Fish, is due to deliver their third child any day now. Hamlin revealed he had arrangements in place to leave the track mid-race if labor had begun before Lap 50. He also said he’s prepared to skip next weekend’s event in Mexico City if needed.

Fuel Strategy and Milestones

Hamlin’s team executed a perfect fuel strategy, outlasting several competitors who came up short in the final laps — including Byron, the Cup Series points leader, who coasted to a disappointing 28th-place finish.

“It hurts,” Byron admitted. “We just burned through more fuel than we could afford.”

Hamlin, meanwhile, didn’t run out of gas until his post-race burnout, a fitting capstone to a landmark afternoon. The victory not only ended Joe Gibbs Racing’s decade-long drought at Michigan, but also made Hamlin the winningest driver in JGR history, surpassing Kyle Busch’s previous mark of 56 wins.

Adding to the history books, Hamlin became just the 10th driver in NASCAR history to earn a victory in his 700th career start.

“I still feel sharp behind the wheel,” Hamlin said. “But once that changes, I won’t hesitate to step away.”

Legal Tensions Linger

Off the track, Hamlin continues to navigate legal proceedings as a co-owner of 23XI Racing, the team he runs with NBA legend Michael Jordan. The organization is currently engaged in a lawsuit against NASCAR, adding another layer of tension to an already busy stretch for the veteran driver.

Despite the distractions, Hamlin’s performance in Michigan was anything but distracted.

Race Recap: Key Moments

• Chase Briscoe started on pole but gave up the lead early to Byron on Lap 12.
• Chris Buescher surged to the front by Lap 36 and captured Stage 1.
• A multi-car incident involving Alex Bowman brought out the red flag on Lap 67.
• Byron bounced back to win Stage 2 after a restart on Lap 78.
• Carson Hocevar briefly led late in the race but was forced to pit with a flat tire and fuel concerns, finishing 29th after a strong run.

Looking Ahead

Next up, NASCAR heads south of the border as the Cup Series visits Mexico City on June 15 for its first-ever points-paying international race in the modern era.

Whether Hamlin will be in the driver’s seat — or the delivery room — remains to be seen.

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