Pastrana's Return Fuels Team Red's Victory Surge!
Joe Gibbs Racing driver overcomes penalties to claim 61st career Cup victory in the Pennzoil 400.
Hamlin Returns to Victory Lane in Emotional Win Icon Sportswire - Getty Images Denny Hamlin picked up where he left off last year at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and this year’s victory in the Pennzoil 400 was just as emotional as the one in October 2025. Since dedicating last year’s victory to his terminally ill father, Dennis, he’s lost him to injuries suffered in a December house fire that left his mother, Mary Lou, critically injured. When it came time to start the season, Hamlin admitted he wasn’t ready, but that all changed at the 1.
5-mile Nevada track where the emotions overflowed after Hamlin claimed his 61st career victory. Daughters Taylor and Molly ran to congratulate him during his post-race TV interview. Taylor cried as she stood with her dad’s arm around her.
Then his mother walked to his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota parked on the front stretch and congratulated him with a hug. Eventually fiancée Jordan Fish and son Jameson joined him before everyone moved to victory lane. “It took a few weeks to feel like driving,” the 45-year-old Hamlin admitted.
“Over the last couple weeks, I definitely regained my love of it, got refocused. “My family obviously had so much sacrifice to help me get here. It’s great Mom gets to see this.