NASCAR at Pocono 2022 Results: Denny Hamlin Holds Off Kyle Busch for 3rd Win of Year
Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images
Denny Hamlin is now the winningest driver at Pocono Raceway.
Hamlin was victorious in Sunday’s M&M’s Fan Appreciation 400 for his seventh win at Pocono, breaking a tie with Jeff Gordon for most all-time. It’s Hamlin’s third Cup Series win of the 2022 season and 49th of his career.
NASCAR @NASCAR
The spin and win!! ????????????<a href=”https://twitter.com/dennyhamlin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@dennyhamlin</a> and the No. 11 team win a dramatic race at <a href=”https://twitter.com/PoconoRaceway?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@PoconoRaceway</a>! <a href=”https://t.co/S14MIRqYUr”>pic.twitter.com/S14MIRqYUr</a>
NASCAR on NBC @NASCARonNBC
RETWEET to congratulate <a href=”https://twitter.com/dennyhamlin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@dennyhamlin</a>!<br><br>By winning today at <a href=”https://twitter.com/PoconoRaceway?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@PoconoRaceway</a>, the <a href=”https://twitter.com/ToyotaRacing?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@ToyotaRacing</a> driver is the winningest driver at the Tricky Triangle, AND…<br><br>He’s now tied with Tony Stewart on the all-time wins list with 49! <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/NASCAR?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#NASCAR</a> <a href=”https://t.co/jSbQ4UOanJ”>pic.twitter.com/jSbQ4UOanJ</a>
Kyle Busch, a four-time winner at Pocono, placed second, while Chase Elliott finished third.
Here’s a look at the top 10 finishers from the race plus a recap of the action.
M&M’s Fan Appreciation 400 Results
1. Denny Hamlin
2. Kyle Busch
3. Chase Elliott
4. Tyler Reddick
5. Daniel Suarez
6. Christopher Bell
7. Kyle Larson
8. Michael McDowell
9. Martin Truex Jr.
10. Bubba Wallace
Full leaderboard available at NASCAR.com
The race track at Pocono was not kind to the drivers. The caution flag came out early and often as multiple cars had trouble handling the sleek track and tight turns.
Austin Cindric, Aric Almirola and Denny Hamlin each had some early adversity.
After Kyle Larson won Stage 1 under caution, Busch asserted his Pocono dominance and took the win in Stage 2.
The final stage opened with Busch trying to hold off a hard-charging Ross Chastain for the front of the pack. Ryan Blaney’s hopes for clinching a playoff spot this week came to an end when he blew a back left tire.
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.<a href=”https://twitter.com/Blaney?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@Blaney</a>’s win won’t be coming this week. <br><br>????: <a href=”https://twitter.com/USA_Network?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@USA_Network</a> ????: <a href=”https://t.co/r61CT6B6jq”>https://t.co/r61CT6B6jq</a> <a href=”https://t.co/dVzMsKkhUH”>pic.twitter.com/dVzMsKkhUH</a>
But Busch relinquished the lead when he chose to pit with 37 laps to go. Chastain stayed out and managed to leapfrog him by pitting a lap later.
Hamlin then passed Busch for second place, but he was heard on his radio indicating he did not get enough fuel during his pitstop. However, he was able to get some time back when a caution was brought out with 23 laps to go after Blaney spun out on Turn 3 and took a huge hit into the wall.
The green flag was waved with 18 laps to go, and Hamlin and Chastain immediately went at each other for the lead. Hamlin took the inside position and refused to give Chastain any room, which led to the No. 1 car running into the wall on the first turn and brought out another caution.
NASCAR on NBC @NASCARonNBC
Denny Hamlin runs Ross Chastain up the racetrack and into the wall! <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/NASCAR?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#NASCAR</a><br><br>???? : <a href=”https://twitter.com/USA_Network?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@USA_Network</a> <br>???? : <a href=”https://t.co/oRf9K5NyTp”>https://t.co/oRf9K5NyTp</a> <a href=”https://t.co/JakNm7AuwO”>pic.twitter.com/JakNm7AuwO</a>
Jeff Gluck @jeff_gluck
So…here’s my take. I don’t think that was an intentional takeout. That to me looked like Hamlin was going to race the shit out of Chastain and not give any room. Chastain wasn’t going to back down. But I don’t think that was Hamlin going “here’s my payback.”<br><br>Give me your take.
After the restart, Hamlin emerged as the leader with Busch on his tail. Elliott and Tyler Reddick battled for third place. The cautions allowed Hamlin to put his fuel concerns out of his mind and focus on the finish.
Hamlin managed to pull away and hold off Busch for the victory. He joins Elliott as the only three-time winners this season.
The only thing missing from Hamlin’s legendary career is a Cup Series championship. After a third win in 2022, he’s starting to look like the favorite to take the title as the playoffs approach.
There are still two playoff spots remaining as the drivers shift their attention to next Sunday’s Verizon 200 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The race will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET.
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