Denny Hamlin won his second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday at Darlington, but his means of winning were far different on Sunday than they were a week ago.
William Byron led the first 243 laps of Sunday’s Goodyear 400, but a late-race pit cycle flipped the leaders. Suddenly, Tyler Reddick held the race lead, forcing Christopher Bell and Byron to chase from over five seconds back.
In the shadows, Ryan Blaney began to mount an incredible charge. After trailing Reddick by as much as 17 seconds immediately following the cycle of pit stops, Blaney hunted down the leader and passed Reddick on Lap 290.
Unfortunately for Blaney, Kyle Larson’s second wreck of the day brought out the final caution of the race, forcing Blaney — who was set to drive away from Reddick — to lead the field down pit road. While Blaney slipped from first to fourth on pit lane, Denny Hamlin’s crew got Hamlin out first.
