Denny Hamlin added another victory to his 2025 NASCAR Cup Series resume Sunday afternoon, winning the Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway.
The victory marks Hamlin’s fifth of the season and secures his place in the Round of 12, further fueling the question that has followed him throughout his career: could this finally be the year he captures the elusive Cup championship?
Hamlin has been one of the sport’s most consistent drivers for over a decade, racking up wins across all types of tracks. Yet despite his resume, which now includes 56 career Cup Series victories, a championship trophy continues to escape him.
Enjoy Illinois 300 Race Results
This season, however, has shown signs of something different. Hamlin has shown that he’s both fast and determined, and at the young age of 44, he is still at the top of his game.
Hamlin’s win at Gateway, coming in the second race of the playoffs, gives him a free pass into the Round of 12, the next stop en route to Phoenix.
The Gateway win puts Hamlin alongside Chase Briscoe as the only two drivers to have guaranteed spots in the Round of 12 through wins.
Behind them, Kyle Larson holds the largest buffer, sitting +60 over the cutline, followed by Bubba Wallace (+50), Ryan Blaney (+42), William Byron (+39), Tyler Reddick (+37), and Christopher Bell (+32).
Former champion Chase Elliott is also in a comfortable position at +28, with Joey Logano (+21), Ross Chastain (+19), and Austin Cindric (+11) still riding above the elimination zone.
On the outside looking in are Austin Dillon (-11), Shane van Gisbergen (-15), Alex Bowman (-35), and Josh Berry, who suffered another crash and another last place finish in the playoffs, (-45).
For those four drivers below the cutline, every point will matter in the final race of the Round of 16 as they scramble to keep their playoff hopes alive.
For Hamlin, the focus now shifts toward sustaining the momentum that he has built. He has been in this position before—too many times—racking up wins, running up front, and appearing to be on the cusp of that elusive title, only for it to slip away late in the playoffs.
This year, though, the timing of his victories and the strength of his team may offer him his best chance yet. With five wins under his belt in 2025 and confidence growing, the veteran has positioned himself as one of the clear favorites to win it all this year.
As the playoffs march forward, the field will tighten and the pressure will mount. For Hamlin, the next step is converting his early success into a deep playoff run.
The question remains: is 2025 finally the year Denny Hamlin breaks through and secures the Cup Series championship that has long eluded him?
