Hamlin edges Byron by inches
Denny Hamlin inched ahead of William Byron on the final turn and nosed out the Saturday in the closest NASCAR Xfinity race at Michigan International Speedway since the advent of electronic scoring in the series.
“We went so low down the back straightaway that there was dust and stuff flying off the tires,” Hamlin said.
Byron led after a restart with two laps remaining, but Hamlin pressured him the rest of the way, and the Cup Series veteran eventually prevailed by 0.012 seconds on the 2-mile track in Brooklyn, Mich.
“It was a lot of fun,” Byron said. “He just had enough air down there to get to the side of us, and it was just a race to the line after that.”
The previous track record for closest victory margin was 0.192 seconds by Todd Bodine on Aug. 19, 2000.
Elliott Sadler finished third behind Hamlin and Byron and took over the series lead from Justin Allgaier. Byron’s best previous finish was fourth, and this effort earned him quite a bit of respect.
“Let’s see: I was 19, I think I was working at Subway making sandwiches. That or working at my dad’s trailer shop,” Hamlin said. “I can’t relate, honestly.
“To be at this level at the age that he is, it’s a huge advantage for him for the next 20 years, 25 years. He’s going to be starting his curve a lot earlier . ... I’m sure by the time he’s 24, 25, he’ll be contending for Cup championships.”
Camping World Truck Series: John Hunter Nemechek took the lead with four laps remaining and pulled away to win at Gateway Motorsports Park in Madison, Ill.
Nemechek, 20, grabbed the top spot from Matt Crafton and then held off pole-sitter Chase Briscoe for his first victory of the season and fourth in the series.
Johnny Sauter was third, followed by Crafton and defending winner Christopher Bell.