Hamlin victory in Gibbs’ honour

Miami – Denny Hamlin withstood three major late-race wrecks on Sunday to win the 61st Daytona 500, an emotional triumph the American dedicated to former team co-owner JD Gibbs, who died last month.

Hamlin, who didn’t win a race last season, captured his 33rd career top-level US stock car series victory and his second at Daytona after 2016.

“We just weren’t going to be denied,” Hamlin said. “I’m going to have a terrible hangover tomorrow but I’m going to remember it for the rest of my life.”

Joe Gibbs, who coached the NFL’s Washington Redskins to three Super Bowl titles, guided Hamlin’s racing team with JD until his son’s death last month at the age of 49 over issues related to brain function.

The Gibbs team swept the podium in Toyotas, the first time since 1993 a single team had owned the top three spots in a Daytona 500. –