Denny Hamlin wins third straight NASCAR Cup at Pocono

Denny Hamlin won the Great American Getaway 400 at Pocono Raceway on Sunday, securing his third consecutive NASCAR Cup Series victory for the first time in his career. The 45-year-old driver for Joe Gibbs Racing now sits alone in ninth place on the sport's all-time wins list with 64 career victories.

Hamlin started from the pole position and took the lead for good with four laps remaining, overtaking teammate Christopher Bell, who was attempting to conserve fuel. A strategic green-flag pit stop by Hamlin's team earlier in the race had positioned him ahead of William Byron. Bell, who was competing with a broken wrist sustained the previous week, ran out of fuel and finished 26th.

The win was Hamlin's eighth at Pocono Raceway, a track where he also earned his first career Cup Series victory on June 11, 2006. This latest triumph marks his fourth points victory of the 2026 season and continues a remarkable surge in the standings. After trailing by 129 points following a race on May 10, Hamlin now sits just 19 points behind series leader Tyler Reddick.

Reddick, who drives for the 23XI Racing team co-owned by Hamlin and Michael Jordan, finished second at Pocono. William Byron placed...