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Hamlin Wins $1M All-Star at Dover, Calls for Night Race

5/19/2026

24 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Denny Hamlin won the 2026 NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover, earning $1 million.
He led half the 350 laps and said the win doesn’t count toward his Cup record.
Hamlin urged NASCAR to restore Dover’s status and suggested moving the All-Star to a night venue.
Chase Briscoe, Chase Elliott and Brad Keselowski said the 350-lap format felt like a regular race, prompting Hamlin to reiterate his plan to retire while competitive.

History

Historical Context

1998’s The Winston All-Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway ran a 70-lap, three-segment, non-points format and was televised on TNN. That season NASCAR also awarded a $1 million Winston No Bull 5 bonus to Dale Jarrett at Talladega, showing the series’ use of large purses. Frequent schedule tweaks—like moving the Pepsi 400 because of wildfires—reflect NASCAR’s long-standing practice of altering formats and venues to sustain marquee events.

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Story summary

Denny Hamlin won the 2026 NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover, earning $1 million.
He led half the 350 laps and said the win doesn’t count toward his Cup record.
Hamlin urged NASCAR to restore Dover’s status and suggested moving the All-Star to a night venue.
Chase Briscoe, Chase Elliott and Brad Keselowski said the 350-lap format felt like a regular race, prompting Hamlin to reiterate his plan to retire while competitive.

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