Denny Hamlin took the win of today's NASCAR South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This was the first race of the second playoff round, following Kyle Larson's win last weekend.
Larson started on pole position but was quickly passed by Ryan Blaney on the inside after the start. Blaney held the lead until he was passed on Lap 8 by Denny Hamlin. Far down the grid, William Byron who started at the back for inspection issues, made his way into P10 by Lap 18, helped by Alex Bowman who lost a few positions to P11 a few laps beforehand.
Tire changes saw Kyle Busch in the lead, but not for long as Hamlin retook the position on Lap 31. Larson took the lead on Lap 45, as Hamlin dropped back to P3 behind Kyle Busch. Larson held the lead and won the first stage.
William Byron Up Into P2 After Starting P35
Hamlin led on the restart from Blaney on Lap 88, but Larson took the lead back on lap 92 while down the field Joey Gase lost his rear left tire and smashed into the wall. The race was yellow-flagged. The race resumed on Lap 99 with Byron leading, until Larson took the position. Byron worked his way up to P2 and held the position until he pitted for new tires on Lap 134. Hamlin held the lead and won Stage 2.
Stage 3 began on Lap 167 with Hamlin in the lead from Martin Truex Jr. Tyler Reddick, Kevin Harvick, and Kyle Busch battled for P3. Tyler Reddick gained P2 and hounded Hamlin for the lead, but dropped to 1.5-seconds behind. Byron was up into P5 until a flat tire forced him to retire on Lap 225.
Hamlin conquered Stage 3 for the race win, guaranteeing his spot in the next playoff round. Chase Elliott finished P2, from Kyle Busch in P3.