Hamlin prevails in Ovetime to win Toyota Owners 400 in Richmond

Credit: RICHMOND, VIRGINIA - MARCH 31: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Mavis Tires & Brakes Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway on March 31, 2024, in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

(RICHMOND, VA) On Sunday night, Denny Hamlin won the Toyota Owners 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway in overtime. Richmond Raceway is considered one of NASCAR's best short tracks (0.75-mile). Hamlin joins William Byron as the only two drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series to win multiple races this season. Hamlin won his fifth Race at Richmond Raceway and the 53rd race of his career. 

 Kyle Larson clinched the pole position in qualifying, while Chase Elliot and Ross Chastain secured the top three spots. Rain hit the Richmond area on Sunday afternoon, and the drivers drove in wet weather tires until lap 30 when all the drivers switched back to racing slick tires.

 In lap 64, Daniel Suarez spun, leading to a caution flag. Kyle Larson, who won last year's Toyota Owners 400, won Stage 1 of the race as he led after 70 Laps. 

Kyle Larson continued his dominance in Stage 2. At Lap 134, Martin Truex Jr passed Larson briefly. 13 laps later, Truex Jr was in 4th place and was 11.7 seconds behind race leader Kyle Larson. Kyle Larson turned into pit lane at lap 152, and Truex Jr took the lead. Kyle Busch, who was in 15th place, made contact with the wall in Turn 1 at lap 170, resulting in a yellow flag. At the green flag, Truex Jr maintained his lead, led the race after 230 laps, and won Stage 2 of the race, which was Truex Jr’s 6th stage win in Richmond & 1st of the season. 

Martin Truex Jr. continued his dominance in Stage 3. At lap 285, Christopher Bell took the lead following Truex Jr.’s stop to pit road. Bell went to pit road on lap 294 as Truex Jr. regained the lead. Denny Hamlin moved to third place at lap 372 ( Truex Jr. led, and Joey Logano was second). At Lap 398, Kyle Larson and Bubba Wallace made contact, which prompted a yellow flag, forcing Larson to pit and forcing the first overtime race of the season. 

At the green flag, Hamlin led the race, followed by Truex Jr. in second place and Joey Logano in third place. In the final lap at the Checkered flag, Hamlin won, Logano finished second, and Kyle Larson finished third. Following the race, Truex Jr. leads the NASCAR Cup Series standings with 270 Points. Kyle Larson is second with 256 points, and Denny Hamlin is third with 252 points.

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