Denny Hamlin wins at Michigan for his 3rd NASCAR Cup Series victory of the season
BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) — Denny Hamlin outlasted the competition at Michigan International Speedway, winning his third NASCAR Cup Series race this season and the 57th of his career on Sunday.
Hamlin, in the No. 11 Toyota, went low to pass William Byron on the 197th of 200 laps and pulled away from the pack.
The 44-year-old was prepared to leave his team to join his fiancée, Jordan Fish, who is due to give birth to their third child, a boy.
Hamlin said he would skip next week's race in Mexico City if necessary to witness the birth. He's also co-owner of 23XI Racing with Michael Jordan, which is involved in a lawsuit against NASCAR.
Chris Buescher finished second, followed by Ty Gibbs, Bubba Wallace and Kyle Larson.
Pole-sitter Chase Briscoe was out front until Byron passed him on lap 12. Buescher pulled ahead on lap 36 and stayed up front to win his first stage this season.
Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott took turns with the lead before a crash involving Alex Bowman brought out the red flag on lap 67.
Byron took the lead again after a restart on lap 78 as part of his strong start and surged to the front again to win the second stage.
Carson Hocevar took the lead on lap 152 and was informed soon thereafter that he didn't have enough fuel to finish, but that became moot because a flat tire forced him into the pits with 18 laps to go.
Rough times for Bowman
Bowman hit a wall with the front end of his No. 48 Chevrolet as part of a multi-car crash in his latest setback.
'That hurt a lot,' he said after passing a medical evaluation.
Bowman, who drives for Hendrick Motorsports, came to Michigan 12th in points and will leave lower in the standings. He has finished 27th or worse in seven of his last nine starts and didn't finish for a third time during the tough stretch.
Reddick rallies
Winnipeg Jets Game Days
On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.
Defending race champion Tyler Reddick qualified 12th, but started last in the 36-car field because of unapproved adjustments and rallied to finish 13th.
Up next
NASCAR shifts to Mexico City for its first points-paying international race in modern history on June 15.
___
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Toronto Star
an hour ago
- Toronto Star
SGA3K: Gilgeous-Alexander reaches 3,000 points for season, 12th player to do so in NBA history
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The milestones keep coming for Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. With his first basket of Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night, Gilgeous-Alexander — the NBA's reigning MVP — reached the 3,000-point mark for the season, including playoffs. The milestone came on a 10-footer with 8:24 left in the opening quarter. He needed only two points to get there Sunday, after scoring 38 in Oklahoma City's Game 1 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW This is the 25th time in NBA history that a player has scored 3,000 points in a season. Michael Jordan did it 10 times, Wilt Chamberlain did it five and 10 other players — Bob McAdoo, Elgin Baylor, James Harden, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Luka Doncic, Rick Barry, Shaquille O'Neal and now Gilgeous-Alexander — have done it once. Gilgeous-Alexander also is the fourth player to score that many points while also handing out at least 600 assists in the same season. Jordan did that three times, while Doncic and Harden have done so once. ___ AP NBA:
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
David Ayala scores in stoppage time to give Timbers 2-1 win over St. Louis
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — David Ayala scored in stoppage time to give the Timbers a 2-1 victory over St. Louis City on Sunday, extending Portland's unbeaten streak at home to eight games. Ayala's goal came in the second minute of second-half stoppage time off a corner kick. After a scoreless first half in temperatures that soared into the 90s Fahrenheit, Akil Watts scored in the 50th minute to put St. Louis City (3-8-6) ahead. Five minutes later, Antony fooled a defender and put his shot from atop the box into the upper far corner to pull the Timbers (7-4-6) even. It was Antony's team-leading sixth goal of the season. The match was City's second under David Critchley, who took over after the team fired Olof Mellberg. St. Louis beat the San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 in Critchley's debut to end its 11-match regular-season winless streak. St. Louis peppered Portland goalkeeper James Pantemis with eight shots on goal, but he made seven saves. St. Louis counterpart Roman Burki made four saves. ___ AP soccer:
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Cristiano Ronaldo sheds tears of joy after Portugal's Nations League triumph
MUNICH (AP) — Another trophy for Cristiano Ronaldo. More records, more adulation. The Portugal star shed tears after helping his team win the Nations League on Sunday. Ronaldo scored to help Portugal draw level with Spain 2-2 in the final, then watched as his teammates won the penalty shootout 5-3. 'I have many titles with my clubs, but nothing is better than winning for Portugal,' Ronaldo said. 'These are tears. It's mission accomplished and so much joy.' The 40-year-old Ronaldo had been the first to run out onto the field for the pre-game warmup, sparking a huge roar from the Portugal supporters, including many wearing jerseys emblazoned with his name. His appearance prompted many supporters to pull out their cell phones to record the superstar while they could still see him in action. Ronaldo conceded Saturday that he won't be able to play forever. That was three days after he helped Portugal to its first win over Germany for 25 years, scoring the winner for a 2-1 victory in the Nations League semifinals. On Sunday he was driving the team again, though it was initially a frustrating game as his chances were limited by Spain's hard-working defenders. Nuno Mendes fired Portugal level after Martin Zubimendi opened the scoring for Spain. Then Mikel Oyarzabal put Spain ahead 2-1 at the break. But Ronaldo was in the right place at the right time to fire home the equalizer from Mendes' deflected cross in the 61st, setting off joyous scenes among his faithful fans. It was Ronaldo's 138th goal for Portugal. Nobody has ever scored more for their country. Ronaldo kept trying in what was his record-extending 221st appearance for the country, but eventually had to go off exhausted in the 88th to standing ovations from fans and a hug from coach Roberto Martínez. Ronaldo said he was carrying an injury into the game. 'I had already felt it during the warmup, I had been feeling it for some time, but for the national team, if I had to break my leg, I would have broken it,' Ronaldo said. 'It's for a trophy, I had to play and I gave it my all.' Ronaldo's future is uncertain as his contract with Saudi club Al-Nassr only runs to the end of June. He posted 'this chapter is over' on social media after the club's last Saudi Pro League game of the season. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. On Saturday he said he had all but decided not to go to the Club World Cup despite 'quite a few' offers from participating clubs to play there. Whatever club Ronaldo plays for, he will keep striving for Portugal. 'I have lived in many countries, I have played for many clubs, but when it's about Portugal, it is always a special feeling,' he said. ___ AP soccer:
