When Kevin Harvick won his 60th Cup race trophy, he revived his old flame. In 2022, he broke a long 65-race dry streak in Michigan and then achieved his 60th win a week after in Richmond. The 2014 Cup Series champion took the lead from Joey Logano with 66 laps to go, and held off Christopher Bell, reversing doubts about his crumbling talents. Yet for Denny Hamlin’s 60th, it meant so much more.

Contrary to Kevin Harvick’s two-year reversal, Denny Hamlin’s 60th may fulfill something he has never achieved in his 20-year career. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver is finally in the Championship 4 again for the first time since 2021. And the conviction for the title is stronger than ever, as Hamlin himself felt something different and unreal on Sunday’s race.

It feels incredible for Denny Hamlin 

Well, the No. 11 Toyota driver faced controversy in the previous few weeks. In New Hampshire, Denny Hamlin wrangled with his teammate, Ty Gibbs. A dust-up with his 23XI Racing driver, Bubba Wallace, followed. At the same time, Hamlin is going through a multitude of struggles off the racetrack. Ranging from the uncertainties of the NASCAR lawsuit to his 75-year-old father’s ailing health, the pressure must be reaching fever pitch for Hamlin. Yet that is why he could savor the South Point 400 victory with more passion. “I can’t believe, I can’t process, I don’t know what happened. It’s all a blur,” he said.

What is more, the final 10 laps were unreal for not just Denny Hamlin but also the fans. Despite starting on the pole, the No. 11 was set back on a few pit stops. He took four tires on the final pit stop and started on the second row with 14 laps to go. But the real magic happened on the final 10 laps. Hamlin recalled on a Sirius XM NASCAR episode: “That entire last 10 laps, I did not think whatsoever, I just did. I said, ‘Alright, this is what I need to do to win this race. I’m gonna run this line, I’m gonna approach it differently, I’m gonna hold the cast down.’ My car was just phenomenal. I just couldn’t believe that we were able to make the moves that we were to win that race.”

With five laps remaining, Denny Hamlin passed Kyle Larson, probably the most promising contender for the day. And then he passed Chase Briscoe with 4 to go. Hamlin recollected the part when he beat his strongest rivals. “Yeah, I can’t wait to watch it back. I can’t process everything that happened. I need to see it again because when you’re on the field, it happens so quickly.” It marked the eighth time Hamlin and Larson have finished in some combination of first and second place.

Evidently, Denny Hamlin cannot get over the euphoria that Las Vegas offered him. “What a way to win 60. That was crazy,” he said. Meanwhile, even his topmost competitor tipped his hat to him in respect.

A nod of approval from a former frenemy

Well, the story of the rivalry between Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson is nothing new. Ranging from Hamlin bumping Larson off-course en route to his 2023 Pocono win to the duo door-slamming each other in the 2024 Iowa race, the conflicts have been plenty. A similar situation may have easily unfolded in Las Vegas – but it did not. Hamlin optimized purely on skill and preparation, as a critical pit stop late in the race proved to be his winning hand. Hence, Larson, who led a race-high 129 of 167 laps, could not complain.

What is more, the Hendrick Motorsports star saluted his former frenemy with respect. “I thought we did everything that we could do,” said Kyle Larson. “The Toyotas were really fast for the short run there. I saw the No. 11 line up behind me, and I knew he’d be difficult to hold off. If any one of the Toyotas got clear and could get rolling, I knew it would be tough. He did a great job, though. He still had to make the right moves, which he did. I felt like I was doing all I could to stay in front of him, while also trying to track down the No. 19 (Briscoe). We just came up a little bit short, but overall, it was a great day for the No. 5 Chevrolet team.” Larson banked 54 points in his runner-up finish, tying Hamlin for the most.

As Denny Hamlin revels in his Las Vegas glory, it is time to focus on the path ahead. Let’s wait and see if the JGR driver can finally fulfill his prophecy this season.