Hamlin wins final NASCAR iRace at North Wilksboro

Denny Hamlin

Denny Hamlin bookended the makeshift series that was created to fill NASCAR’s on-track racing void due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota won the opener at Homestead-Miami Speedway back on March 22 and then won the finale at North Wilkesboro Speedway on Saturday afternoon.

There was a late-race caution with 25 laps to go that forced a restart with 15 laps remaining in the 160-lap event. Ross Chastain and Timmy Hill were out front when the green flag waved, but Hamlin passed Hill in the No. 66 MBM Motorsports Toyota with 12 laps to go. Chastain’s No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford then got loose with nine laps to go, allowing Hamlin to take the lead.

Hill wound up second. Tyler Reddick came in third, while Chastain finished fourth. Austin Dillon completed the top five.

Garrett Smithley, Brennan Poole, Parker Kligerman, Kevin Harvick and Landon Cassill rounded out the top 10 in order.

Other notable finishes included Jon Wood in 13th, Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 15th and Jeff Gordon in 18th. Making his first and last series start, Martin Truex Jr. ended up 20th after spinning with 13 lags to go.

NASCAR will now return to live racing May 17 at Darlington Raceway (3:30 p.m. on FOX/FOX Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Results

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