DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) — Denny Hamlin has ended his season-long winless drought with a victory at the Southern 500 to open the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
Hamlin had to hold off the season’s top playoff seed in Kyle Larson, who closed to Hamlin’s bumper racing to the finish line. The win allowed Hamlin to move into the second round without having to scrape for points with close finishes as he did to qualify seventh for the playoffs this season.
Ross Chastain finished third, the only non-playoff driver among the top eight. Martin Truex Jr. was fourth, followed by Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch.
