Denny Hamlin Wins NASCAR Cup Series Race at Las Vegas

Hamlin earns first victory of 2026 season in Pennzoil 400

Mar. 16, 2026 at 4:33am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Denny Hamlin and the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing team won the NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday evening. Hamlin had to overcome a pit-road speeding penalty in Stage 1 to climb through the field and hold off a late charge from Chase Elliott for the victory, his 61st career Cup Series win.

Why it matters

Hamlin's win is an important early-season boost for the veteran driver and his team, who were looking to bounce back after a tough start to the 2026 season. The victory also moves Hamlin past Kevin Harvick on the all-time Cup Series wins list, further cementing his status as one of the top drivers of his generation.

The details

Hamlin led 74 of the 267 laps at Las Vegas, including the final 24 laps as he held off a hard-charging Chase Elliott. Christopher Bell and William Byron won the first two stages, but it was Hamlin who emerged victorious at the end. The race featured only one natural caution, along with the two stage cautions.

  • The NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway took place on Sunday, March 16, 2026.
  • Denny Hamlin earned his first victory of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season.

The players

Denny Hamlin

A veteran NASCAR Cup Series driver who competes for Joe Gibbs Racing. Hamlin's win at Las Vegas was his 61st career Cup Series victory, moving him past Kevin Harvick on the all-time wins list.

Chase Elliott

The driver of the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, who finished second to Hamlin at Las Vegas after a late charge.

Christopher Bell

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver who won the first stage of the race at Las Vegas.

William Byron

The Hendrick Motorsports driver who won the second stage of the race at Las Vegas.

Connor Zilisch

The driver who spun and brought out the lone natural caution of the race at Las Vegas.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We've had a tough start to the season, so this win is really important for our team. I'm proud of the way we fought back after the penalty and were able to get to the front.”

— Denny Hamlin (NASCAR.com)

What’s next

Hamlin and the No. 11 team will look to carry their momentum from the Las Vegas win into next weekend's race at Darlington Raceway.

The takeaway

Denny Hamlin's victory at Las Vegas marks an important early-season turnaround for the veteran driver and his Joe Gibbs Racing team, who were seeking to bounce back after a challenging start to the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season.