“I’ve been surprised at how hard he does work. I’m starting to see the amount of effort he puts in,” Crew Chief Chris Gayle said after Denny Hamlin’s earlier win this season. That grind paid off big at age 44, as Hamlin notched his 60th Cup win at Las Vegas, tying Kevin Harvick for 10th all-time and matching Richard Petty’s 16 victories after turning 40. But his South Point 400 win not only gets him a finale ticket after four years but also an added preparation edge over everyone else.

With two races left in the Round of 8, Hamlin’s early lock-in hands Joe Gibbs Racing a rare three-week runway to dial in setups without elimination pressure. Rivals like Joey Logano and Christopher Bell now stare down a points scramble at Talladega and Martinsville, while Hamlin’s team rep for sim sessions

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