Denny Hamlin wins NASCAR’s first Chase race
JOLIET, Ill. Denny Hamlin took early control of NASCAR’s Chase on Sunday, winning the myAFibRisk.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway.
Hamlin’s victory came in the first race of the Chase and clinched him a spot in the second three-race stage of the postseason. It was another bright spot for Hamlin’s Joe Gibbs Racing team, which has won 11 of the past 17 races.
The race didn’t get off to a great start for Hamlin, who spun and hit the wall on the second lap.
Carl Edwards, Hamlin’s JGR teammate, finished second, with Kurt Busch third and Ryan Newman fourth.
Hamlin is driving with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, an injury he sustained two weeks ago playing basketball.
Matt Kenseth, another JGR driver, was fifth, with Joey Logano finishing sixth. The only two non-Chase drivers in the top 10 were Kyle Larson (seventh) and Aric Almirola (10th).
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