Hamlin Takes Martinsville Win, Bell, Wallace, and Elliott Follow
Denny Hamlin claimed victory at Martinsville, crediting his crew chief Chris Gayle, engineers, and pit crew for taking a fresh approach that paid off. He praised Gayle for adapting to the No. 11 team’s style and was thrilled to secure his 55th career win with him. Having spent years racing Late Models at Martinsville, Hamlin expressed how much he enjoys winning at the track.
Christopher Bell finished second after struggling with his car’s balance throughout the race. He admitted that his final adjustment made the car too loose, costing him momentum. Despite this, he was pleased with the strong performance of all Joe Gibbs Racing cars and considered second place behind Hamlin, a Martinsville expert, a solid result. Bell highlighted the importance of strong qualifying and hoped for an even better showing in the fall.
Bubba Wallace secured third place but reflected on what he could have done differently, particularly with his restarts, which are usually one of his strengths. While disappointed to let second place slip away, he was proud of his team’s performance and the speed of his car. He acknowledged that catching Hamlin would have been difficult but was satisfied with a strong day for Toyota.
Chase Elliott finished fourth, commending his team for preparing a competitive car. He emphasized the importance of controlling the race but admitted he fell just short of reaching Hamlin. While it was a solid performance, Elliott stressed the need to improve and push for better results in future races.
