Hamlin wins again in Las Vegas

Denny Hamlin returned to victory lane at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for his first win since losing the NASCAR championship four months ago.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 7:37am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Denny Hamlin won the NASCAR race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, his 61st career victory. Hamlin overcame an early speeding penalty and drove from 31st through the field in a dominant performance, leading a race-high 134 laps. This was Hamlin's first win since losing the NASCAR championship four months ago, and his first since the death of his father in a December house fire.

Why it matters

Hamlin's victory is significant as he looks to bounce back after narrowly missing out on the NASCAR championship last year. The win also comes after a difficult personal period following the death of his father, providing an emotional boost for the veteran driver.

The details

Hamlin's 60th career victory was at Las Vegas last October, a win he dedicated to his father as it locked Hamlin into NASCAR's championship-deciding finale. His father was in poor health and Hamlin went into the race knowing it was probably his final chance to win a championship while Dennis Hamlin was still alive. However, the wrong call on the final pit stop cost him the Cup championship that has eluded the three-time Daytona 500 winner.

  • Hamlin won at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, March 16, 2026.
  • Hamlin's 60th career victory was at Las Vegas last October.
  • Hamlin's father passed away in a house fire in December.

The players

Denny Hamlin

A 45-year-old NASCAR driver from Virginia who has won 61 career races, including the Daytona 500 three times. He is also a co-owner of the 23XI Racing team.

Dennis Hamlin

Denny Hamlin's father, who passed away in a house fire in December.

Michael Jordan

Co-owner of the 23XI Racing team, which won the Daytona 500 this year with driver Tyler Reddick.

Tyler Reddick

The driver for 23XI Racing who won the Daytona 500 and the first three races of the 2026 NASCAR season.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I knew it took a few weeks to feel like driving. Over the last couple weeks, I definitely regained my love of it, got refocused. These are great opportunities for us.”

— Denny Hamlin

“It is just so satisfying, so gratifying. You just never know what can happen year over year if you still have it or not.”

— Denny Hamlin

What’s next

Hamlin will look to build on this victory as he continues his quest for his first NASCAR Cup Series championship.

The takeaway

Denny Hamlin's emotional victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway demonstrates his resilience and determination to succeed in the face of personal tragedy and professional setbacks. The win provides a much-needed boost as he aims to capture the elusive NASCAR championship that has eluded him throughout his illustrious career.