RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Denny Hamlin ran down William Byron with five laps to go and ended the slowest start to his career with a victory in the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway.
Hamlin closed a huge gap between Byron and teammate Martin Truex Jr., passing Truex on the outside and Byron shortly thereafter. He then held off a challenge from Kevin Harvick, a three-time winner at Richmond.
Hamlin’s 47th career victory was his first at his hometown track since 2016 and the first for Toyota in the Next Gen car. He is the seventh winner in as many Cup races this season.
Harvick was second, followed by Byron, Truex and Kyle Larson.
