Ultimately Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota had just enough fuel to claim the checkered flag at Michigan International Speedway and do one celebratory series of burnouts in front of the huge grandstand crowd before running out of gas on his encore celebration and needing a tow to his ultimate destination: Victory Lane.

The 44-year-old put on a master class in fuel saving and end-of-race pressure at the two-mile oval – taking his third win of the season and 57th of his career. Hamlin crossed the line 1.099s ahead of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing’s Chris Buescher and his JGR teammate, Ty Gibbs, after the day’s most dominant driver, Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron, had to pit for fuel on the last lap.

“No, not really,’’ Hamlin said, insisting he wasn’t overly worried about running out of fuel in the closing laps. “I wanted to get the lead and obviously he (Byron) was doing a really good job defending.

“Sorry, but I beat your favorite driver,’’ a grinning Hamlin – in his 701st career series start – addressed the rowdy Michigan crowd.

“This whole team just stepped up,’’ he said. “Great job. We’ve been so fast this entire year, just haven’t finished it for one reason or another, so it feels good to come to Michigan where we’ve been so close the last couple of years.

“Such a gratifying day to restart 11th or 12th and charge to the front,’’ added Hamlin, who has now won multiple races in the last seven consecutive seasons.

With 20 laps remaining, Hamlin had made his way from 11th place to fifth in the running order, behind the day’s most dominant cars – Carson Hocevar in the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet and Byron in the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.

Both Hocevar, a Michigan native racing for his first career NASCAR Cup Series win, and Byron were told by their crew chiefs they were going to run out of fuel before the end of the race. Instead of a fuel issue, however, Hocevar – who led 32 laps – had to pit from the race lead with 19 laps remaining for a flat tire.

Hendrick’s Byron, who led a race best 98 of the 200 laps, inherited the lead from Hocevar and then had to try to fend off Hamlin, who methodically started moving forward, racing Byron hard and forcing the championship leader out of any sort of fuel-save mode.

Hamlin got by Byron with four laps to go and Byron dove down pit road for fuel on the final lap, having to settle for a 28th place finish. Hocevar finished 29th.

“Ultimately, maybe not as good mileage as the guys farther back to start that run and that’s just the way the cautions go, and the nature of being closer to the front and burning a lot of fuel,’’ Byron said. “That one, you can’t really do a lot about. It sucks. It really stings.

“We had a really good car. I thought we executed well. It seemed like we waited a little more on fuel on that last stop and just burned more. Not able to do much about that. It is what it is.’’

Bubba Wallace drove the No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota – a team Hamlin co-owns – to fourth place. Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson was fifth. Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain was sixth. Front Row Motorsports’ Zane Smith finished a season-best seventh place. Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch was eighth followed by RFK teammates Ryan Preece and Brad Keselowski – marking the first time all three RFK cars finished among the top 10 this season.

There were 13 lead changes among 11 drivers and Hamlin led only five laps on the day.

A nearly 12-minute red flag period occurred early in the race while workers ensured the track was race-worthy after a four-car incident sent the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, driven by Alex Bowman, hard into the wall after being clipped by Cole Custer’s spinning No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford. Bowman spoke to reporters after being checked out at the medical center. It marked the seventh time in the last nine races, however, that the perennial championship contender Bowman has finished 25th or worse.

With 11 races remaining in the regular season, Byron holds a 41-point lead over Larson in the championship points standings. There have been nine race winners. Team Penske’s Austin Cindric currently holds the 16th and final spot in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs point standings.

The NASCAR Cup Series will make its first international points-paying trip next weekend with Sunday’s Viva Mexico 250 at Mexico City’s renowned Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez road course (3 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, MAX).

RESULTS

23XI Racing – co-owned by NBA icon Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin – will have to give up their chartered status unless they file a petition

NASCAR sensation Denny Hamlin has declared that 23XI Racing, co-owned by himself and basketball legend Michael Jordan, will compete as an open team if stripped of their charter status, risking a multimillion-dollar deficit.

A temporary court order previously permitted the racing team to participate as a chartered outfit for 2024 without having signed the charter agreement, but it was overturned by a trio of judges from the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday.

23XI Racing, along with Front Row Motorsports, faces a June 19 deadline to challenge the verdict. The ruling’s effect won’t commence until a week past the June 26 deadline for the teams to file a petition.

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As uncertainty looms over 23XI Racing, Hamlin stands firm in his commitment to the sport, confirming that they will remain competitors even if labeled as an open team for 2025, regardless of the financial hit.

“Same as what we said in December is that we’re committed to run this season open if we have to, even before they decided on the injunction,” the renowned Daytona 500 champion remarked on Saturday.

Following a third-place qualification at Michigan International Speedway, Hamlin affirmed: “So we’re going to race and fulfill all of our commitments no matter what.

“We’re here to race. Our team is going to be here for the long haul and we’re confident of that.”

When questioned about the potential risk of losing drivers Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace, and Riley Herbst if the team were to become an open team, Hamlin responded candidly, “I’ve got so much to worry about. I’m not focused on that particularly right this second.”

Hamlin reassured his employees regarding their job security, despite the substantial financial implications of losing charters.

“One of the things we remain steadfast in saying is that nothing will change in their lives, and we’re going to make sure that everyone’s taken care of and everyone should plan on work as scheduled,” he emphasized.

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Following last week’s ruling, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports attorney Jeffrey Kessler expressed his disappointment but did insist the team will continue its fight.

“We are disappointed by today’s ruling by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and are reviewing the decision to determine our next steps,” Kessler stated, via NBC Sports.

“This ruling is based on a very narrow consideration of whether a release of claims in the charter agreements is anti-competitive and does not impact our chances of winning at trial scheduled for December 1.”

NASCAR has announced a positive update regarding Hendrick Motorsports star Alex Bowman after a big wreck at Michigan International Speedway, confirming that he has been seen and released from the infield care center.

The FireKeepers Casino 400 was red-flagged on lap 68 of 200 after Bowman’s No. 48 Chevrolet collided heavily with the barrier at MIS.

READ MORE: NASCAR Results Today: Denny Hamlin stuns rivals at Michigan as race ends in thrilling battle

As the remainder of the field were parked on track and waiting for the action to resume, NASCAR quickly revealed that Bowman had left the car of his own power.

And, a further medical update followed, with NASCAR confirming that Bowman had been evaluated and released from the infield care center.

NASCAR also confirmed that Cole Custer had been evaluated and released from the infield care center.

Alex Bowman and Cole Custer were evaluated and released from the infield care center.

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 8, 2025

NASCAR HEADLINES: Kyle Busch set for house move as Hendrick Motorsports announce new partnership

Alex Bowman reacts to Michigan wreck

After being released from the care center, Bowman took the time to talk through the incident with the media.

“I feel okay,” the Hendrick Motorsports driver said. “It was a really large crash, so not super fun, I’ve certainly felt better.”

Asked if he saw the incident coming or if there was any sign there was going to be contact between cars, Bowman explained: “It happened so fast, I didn’t even see them.”

“I didn’t know who hit me until I saw the video, right? But it’s always turbulent in 300th, it’s crazy back there. It gets wild, but that’s part of racing; it’s wild all throughout the field.

“Unfortunately, the further back you get, the less downforce you have and the dirtier air situations you’re in, and the worse everybody’s stuff drives. So, stuff like that tends to happen.”

Asked if he was afraid when he takes a hit like he did having previously had back and head injuries, Bowman ended the interview: “No, I’m not afraid…I wouldn’t even say concerned.

“I’m a race car driver, I hit s**t. I’ve hit a lot of s**t lately, so I would like to stop hitting s**t.”

READ MORE: NASCAR announce late demotion for Cup Series star at Michigan

Related

Fifteen races down, 11 to go in the Cup Series’ regular season.

The 2025 NASCAR season continued to chug along with the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Sunday’s winner: Denny Hamlin, who captured the 57th win of his Cup career.

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Hamlin battled late with William Byron, but passed him and then cruised after Byron ran out of gas, leaving Chris Buescher as the nearest pursuer. He finished one second behind the winner.

Ty Gibbs, Bubba Wallace and Kyle Larson rounded out the top five. Here is the full finishing order.

NASCAR standings: Results from FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan today

1. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

2. Chris Buescher, No. 17 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

3. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

4. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota

5. Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

6. Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

7. Zane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford

8. Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

9. Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford

10. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

11. Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota

12. Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford

13. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota

14. Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

15. Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

16. Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

17. AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

18. Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

19. Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

20. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 HYAK Motorsports Chevrolet

21. Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

22. Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford

23. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

24. Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

25. Riley Herbst, No. 35 23XI Racing Toyota

26. Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Ford

27. Noah Gragson, No. 4 Front Row Motorsports Ford

28. William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

29. Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

30. Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

31. Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford

32. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford

33. Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford

34. John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota

35. Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford

36. Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: NASCAR race today: Results of FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan

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BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) — Denny Hamlin is pulling off quite a juggling act.

Hamlin outlasted the competition at Michigan International Speedway for his third NASCAR Cup Series victory of the season and 57th of his career, juggling his roles as a driver, expectant father and co-owner of a racing team that’s suing NASCAR.

“The tackle box is full,” Hamlin said Sunday. “There’s all kinds of stuff going on.”

Hamlin, in the No. 11 Toyota, went low to pass William Byron on the 197th of 200 laps and pulled away from the pack to win by more than a second over Chris Buescher.

“Just worked over the guys one by one, giving them different looks,” he said.

Ty Gibbs finished third, matching a season best, followed by Bubba Wallace and Kyle Larson.

The 44-year-old Hamlin was prepared to leave his team to join his fiancée, Jordan Fish, who is due to give birth to their third child, a boy. If she was in labor by Lap 50 or sooner at Michigan, he was prepared to leave the track.

Hamlin said he would skip next week’s race in Mexico City if necessary to witness the birth.

To add something else to Hamlin’s plate, he is also co-owner of 23XI Racing with Michael Jordan, which is involved in a lawsuit against NASCAR.

He drives for Joe Gibbs Racing, which hadn’t won at Michigan in a decade.

“I think it’s the most underrated track that we go to,” said Hamlin, who has won three times on the 2-mile oval.

Hamlin became JGR’s winningest driver, surpassing Kyle Busch’s 56 victories, and the 10th driver in NASCAR history to win after his 700th start.

“It feels good because I’m going to hate it when I’m not at the level I’m at now,” he said. “I will certainly retire very quicky after that.”

Hamlin’s team set him up with enough fuel to win while many drivers, including Byron, ran out of gas late in the race.

“It really stings,” said Byron, the points leader, who was a season-worst 28th. “We just burned more (fuel) and not able to do much about that.”

Hamlin, meanwhile, wasn’t on empty until his celebratory burnout was cut short.

Pole-sitter Chase Briscoe was out front until Byron passed him on Lap 12. Buescher pulled ahead on Lap 36 and stayed up front to win his first stage this season.

Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott took turns with the lead before a crash involving Alex Bowman brought out the red flag on Lap 67.

Byron took the lead again after a restart on Lap 78 as part of his strong start and surged to the front again to win the second stage.

Carson Hocevar took the lead on Lap 152 and was informed soon thereafter that he didn’t have enough fuel to finish, but that became moot because a flat tire forced him into the pits with 18 laps to go.

Hocevar faded to a 29th-place finish, a week after he was second to match a career best at Nashville, where he created a buzz with an aggressive move that knocked Ricky Stenhouse Jr. out of the race.

Rough times for Bowman

Bowman hit a wall with the front end of his No. 48 Chevrolet as part of a multi-car crash in his latest setback.

“That hurt a lot,” he said after passing a medical evaluation. “That was probably top of the board on hits I’ve taken.”

Bowman, who drives for Hendrick Motorsports, came to Michigan 12th in points and will leave lower in the standings. He has finished 27th or worse in seven of his last nine starts and didn’t finish for a third time during the tough stretch.

Reddick rallies

Defending race champion Tyler Reddick qualified 12th, but started last in the 36-car field because of unapproved adjustments and rallied to finish 13th.

Up next

NASCAR shifts to Mexico City for its first points-paying international race in modern history on June 15.