Denny Hamlin finally got a win in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season. It came in Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.

Sunday evening’s race (9/5) was the first race of the NASCAR Cup Series 2021 Playoffs. Sixteen drivers began the race as part of the Round of 16 in the post-season. This three-race round will end with 12 drivers advancing and four being eliminated from championship contention. The fastest way to advance to the next round in the Playoffs is to win one of the three races.

Every Playoff driver started the race with that plan … Win the race. However, early in the race it was obvious that some would not be able to achieve that goal. Many Playoff drivers had misfortune of some kind during the race. Some of them were able to continue on in the race and salvage a decent day. Some found themselves in the garage with their day ended and a much tougher path ahead to advance in the post-season.

Kyle Larson appeared that he would start the Playoffs where he ended the regular season, the dominant car in the series. He was one of 10 different drivers that would exchange the lead 18 times during the race. Denny Hamlin scored the win in Stage 1 of the race. Then, Kyle took the lead and held it for most of Stage 2 winning that stage. Kyle started the final stage of the race as the leader and in control of the race. He led a race-high 156 laps.

However, thanks to late race cautions Kyle lost his lead and control of the race to Denny with 68 laps remaining. Denny was able to hold on to that lead through the final laps and some more re-starts. Kyle made an up against the wall, full-throttle charge through the final turns on the last lap. It would not be enough to keep Denny from getting his first win of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season. This also gave Denny his fourth win at Darlington, the most among active drivers. More importantly, the win gives Denny and automatic advance to the next round in the Playoffs.

Kyle Larson was able to hold on for the runner-up finish. Ross Chastain was the highest finishing non-Playoff driver as he claimed third place. Martin Truex Jr. finished in fourth place with Kevin Harvick rounding out the top five. See the complete race results in the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway here.

Denny Hamlin sits at the top of the Playoff Standings as the only driver locked in the Round of 12. Kyle Larson is right behind him in second place with an 80 point lead above the cut line. The rest of the drivers currently above the cut line are less than a race’s worth of points to the good. The pressure will remain high on them to advance during the next two races. See the complete NASCAR Cup Series 2021 Playoff Standings here.

The next change to advance will be Saturday night, September 11th, under the lights of Richmond Raceway in the Federated Auto Parts Salute to First Responders 400.

By: Buck Stevens