Denny Hamlin beamed with confidence after clinching his fifth win of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season at the Enjoy Illinois 300, quipping, “I just told [Bill Murray] to talk to the guys behind me and make sure they stay behind me the rest of the race. So we made that happen. Man, it’s just a great victory.” The Hollywood star, serving as grand marshal, added a touch of star power to the Gateway event. Hamlin’s dominant performance locked in his Round of 12 playoff spot, marking Toyota’s 200th Cup win. Yet, amid the celebrations, whispers from the broadcast booth hinted at more beneath that pre-race exchange.

Broadcasters speculated that Murray’s lean-in chat involved an apology for skipping Hamlin’s golf tournament or rejecting a past lucrative offer. As cameras captured the lively pit

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