Denny Hamlin Wins Martinsville, Ties Rusty Wallace in Career Wins

Denny Hamlin achieved a significant victory at the Cook Out 400, marking his first win at Martinsville Speedway since 2015 and his 55th career win, tying him with Rusty Wallace on the all-time list. Hamlin led a dominant performance, controlling 274 laps of the 400-lap race and finishing 4.617 seconds ahead of teammate Christopher Bell. This win is particularly notable as it comes with a new crew chief, Chris Gayle, who has helped the team adopt a fresh approach. Hamlin's success at the race has revitalized his momentum in the NASCAR Cup Series after a prolonged winless streak. The race was largely clean compared to the prior day's Xfinity Series chaos, with notable competitors like Bubba Wallace and Chase Elliott finishing in the top five. Hamlin expressed deep satisfaction with the victory, highlighting the teamwork and strategy that led to his triumph at a track where he had previously struggled.