BROOKLYN, Mich. — For the second-straight week, a last-lap pass determined the outcome in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, this time with Denny Hamlin edging out rookie William Byron in a photo finish at Michigan Int’l Speedway.
The thrilling run to the checkered flag began with 14 laps to go, when debris in Turn 3 drew the sixth caution flag of the day with Hamlin out in front. At that point, Byron had arguably the fastest car on-track and restarted third when racing resumed with nine laps left.
Using a sweep to the inside, Byron dispatched both Hamlin and race-long dominator Brad Keselowski to go to the point by the time the field was on the backstretch, taking command by four car lengths as Hamlin regrouped and began to close in.
Just as the battle began to sizzle again, Matt Tifft spun off Turn 4 with five to go, bringing out another caution and setting the stage for a two-lap dash for glory.
Byron got the jump — as well as a huge push from teammate Elliott Sadler — to assume the lead when the green flag flew, but Hamlin wasn’t done, getting a huge run off Turn 4 coming to the white flag and closing right up on Byron’s back bumper.
Though the young rookie was able to hold off the charge through Turns 1 and 2, Hamlin drew even with Byron down the backstretch before a huge drive into Turn 3 put Byron seemingly out front for good as he cleared Hamlin.
But Byron made one mistake, leaving the bottom open just enough for Hamlin to get back to his left-rear quarter panel on the corner exit, sucking the No. 9 Liberty University Chevrolet back as Hamlin charged towards the checkered flag.
Byron found a last gasp coming to the line, but ran out of room as Hamlin stole his 16th career XFINITY victory by .012 of a second in the end.
“Man, I definitely didn’t want that debris caution at the end,” Hamlin said in victory lane. “I did see it up there in Turn 3, but I was hoping that they weren’t going to call it. I’m proud of this whole team, though; the pit stops were awesome with that number one pit stall … and that was really a credit to Kyle Benjamin for qualifying so well (last week in Pocono; that really helped us a lot.”
Hamlin then paid a nod to Byron, who raced him hard but fair all the way to the end.
“He did a great job,” Hamlin said of the young rookie. “I knew he had a really great car that last long run that we had. He’s done a great job, and obviously he’s one of NASCAR’s next future superstars and I wanted to race him clean. I wasn’t going to turn him or anything like that.”
“I stayed low and got him a little bit loose through (Turns) 1 and 2 that allowed me to get position. Then going into Turn 3, we both got sideways, and he slid up just enough to barely get me to that left rear. It was just enough to drag race past him. Proud of this team, great that we got a win.”
Byron lamented being “so close” at the end, but still took pride in his best-career XFINITY Series finish.
“It really hurts to be that close and not win. He just got that side draft off me off Turn 4 and that’s what he needed to get to the line,” Byron said. “I just couldn’t quite get enough back to him to get to the line faster. Great job by the Liberty University team; it hurts but we will get one soon. This is how we need to run and we will get one (if we keep running) like this.”
Elliott Sadler finished third after playing pit strategy to win the second stage and then catching a timely caution with 43 to go, allowing him to maintain track position and get back on the same pit sequence as the leaders.
Opening stage winner Brad Keselowski came home fourth after leading 54 laps, followed by Kyle Busch, who rallied from a crash on the opening start after being bumped from behind by Keselowski to round out the top five.
Ty Dillon, Paul Menard, Ryan Reed, Brandon Jones and Cole Custer finished sixth through 10th, respectively.
The NASCAR XFINITY Series returns to action on June 24 at Iowa Speedway, with the running of the American Ethanol E15 250 presented by Enogen.
Full race results can be viewed on the next page…
