Full Breakdown
Denny Hamlin Wins $1 Million All-Star Race at Dover Amid Format Controversy
5/19/2026, 1:50:52 AM
The Victory at Dover
Denny Hamlin captured the 2026 NASCAR All-Star Race on Sunday at Dover Motor Speedway, starting from pole and leading 103 of the 200-lap final segment. He passed teammate Chase Briscoe with 30 laps remaining and crossed the finish line 0.887 seconds ahead, securing the $1 million prize. It is Hamlin’s second All-Star win (first since 2015) and his third consecutive Dover victory, though the result does not add to his official 61 Cup Series wins.
Background and New Format
The All-Star Race is a non-points exhibition traditionally run as a short, high-stakes event. In 2026 the race moved to Dover for the first time and adopted a three-segment format (75 laps, 75 laps, 200 laps) with inversions and eliminations. The new structure intended to blend “open” qualifying with a final showdown of 26 cars, but early crashes eliminated many locked-in drivers and prompted criticism that the event felt like a regular points race.
Key Players
- Denny Hamlin – Joe Gibbs Racing driver, No. 11 Toyota, age 45.
- Chase Briscoe – Hamlin’s teammate, No. 19 Toyota, finished second.
- Erik Jones – Legacy Motor Club driver, third place, completing a Toyota 1-2-3.
- Heather Gibbs – Co-owner of Joe Gibbs Racing, highlighted Hamlin’s leadership.
- Ryan Preece – Involved in the Lap 2 multi-car crash; his car caught fire.
- Brad Keselowski, Bubba Wallace, Chase Elliott – Drivers who publicly questioned the format.
Timeline of the Race
- Qualifying: Hamlin posts pole position.
- Lap 2: Multi-car wreck involving Preece, Larson, Elliott, others; Preece’s car erupts in flames.
- Segment 1 (75 laps): Wallace wins; inversion reshuffles the field.
- Segment 2 (75 laps): Additional 9-car crash eliminates several locked-in cars.
- Final Segment (200 laps): Hamlin leads 103 laps, passes Briscoe with 30 laps to go, wins.
Numbers That Define the Day
- Laps led by Hamlin: 103 (including final 30).
- Margin of victory: 0.887 seconds.
- Prize money: $1 million.
- Field size: 36 starters; 26 advanced to final segment.
- Cautions: Eight in the first segment, multiple in later stages.
Why the Win Matters
The victory reinforces Hamlin’s competitiveness late in his career and fuels his stated goal of retiring “while still at the top.” It also adds a high-profile $1 million win to his résumé, though it does not affect his official win tally. The race’s format and venue have become focal points in ongoing discussions about the All-Star event’s future.
Official Statements
Joe Gibbs Racing co-owner Heather Gibbs praised Hamlin’s “master-class” approach in driver meetings and called his performance “still at the top.” Hamlin reiterated that the win “doesn’t count” on the stat sheet but will matter for Hall-of-Fame considerations, and he urged NASCAR to restore Dover’s points race and revisit the All-Star format. Several drivers, including Chase Briscoe and Brad Keselowski, described the Dover event as feeling like a regular points race rather than a distinct exhibition.
Criticism from Drivers and Fans
Drivers such as Briscoe, Elliott, Keselowski, and Wallace argued that the three-segment, 350-lap distance and daytime schedule stripped the All-Star Race of its traditional short, high-energy character. A fan poll cited by The Athletic recorded a 35 % approval rating for the event, reflecting broader dissatisfaction with the format and venue choice.
On-Track Incidents
The Lap 2 crash saw Ryan Preece’s car strike the outside wall, ignite, and force an emergency evacuation. Preece later told reporters, “I’m fine, I seem to take big hits.” The incident also involved Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, and several other contenders, contributing to a high attrition rate before the final segment.
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
Sources differ on the total race distance, with some describing a 350-lap event and others a 400-lap format. Lap-lead counts are consistent at 103, but the exact number of cautions varies between eight and nine across reports. No official clarification has been issued.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This one doesn't count,” — Denny Hamlin, driver
- “I would say with Denny, every Monday when we have our driver meetings, it's kind of like a master class,” — Heather Gibbs, co-owner, Joe Gibbs Racing
- “Maybe it was because it was during the day. All weekend, it didn’t feel like an All-Star Race. It felt like a normal points race.” — Chase Briscoe, driver
- “I'm fine, I seem to take big hits,” — Ryan Preece, driver
- “First thing is let’s give Dover their points race back and then let’s figure out where we’re going to go, and then figure out the format.” — Denny Hamlin, driver
- “You gotta commit to a long-ass day at a track that’s fairly unforgiving.” — Brad Keselowski, driver
What’s Next
The next major event is the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 24. NASCAR officials are expected to review the All-Star format and Dover’s role as a host, with drivers and fans urging a return to a shorter, night-time exhibition format.
