Denny Hamlin Wins Nashville Cracker Barrel 400 by 0.115 Seconds After Pole-Start Penalty
Updated
Updated · NBC Sports · Jun 1
Denny Hamlin Wins Nashville Cracker Barrel 400 by 0.115 Seconds After Pole-Start Penalty
17 articles · Updated · NBC Sports · Jun 1
0.115 seconds separated Denny Hamlin from Christopher Bell after a final four-lap sprint, giving Hamlin his second win of 2026 and 62nd career Cup victory.
A jump-start penalty from the pole sent the 45-year-old to the back of the field, but he charged through traffic and beat Bell and Chase Briscoe in a three-wide fight for the lead.
Nashville delivered a chaotic race after an 80-minute rain delay, with a track-record 31 lead changes and 12 cautions on NASCAR's largest concrete oval.
Brake and rotor failures shaped the night: Connor Zilisch, Ross Chastain, AJ Allmendinger and Chris Buescher all hit trouble, while Ryan Preece also went to the garage with cooling damage linked to rotor debris.
Bell finished runner-up for a second straight race, Briscoe took third, and Hamlin heads to Michigan next week seeking back-to-back wins at that track.
How crucial was this comeback win for Hamlin's title hopes under the new playoff rules?
With multiple cars suffering brake failures, what is the real risk on concrete ovals?
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