Denny Hamlin has joined an elite list. He has become only the 10th driver in NASCAR Cup Series history to win a race after making 700 starts.
The other drivers to win at least one race after making 700 starts are Jeff Gordon (six wins), Bobby Allison (one), Kevin Harvick (seven), Richard Petty (22), Kurt Busch (three), Mark Martin (five), Ricky Rudd (three), Bill Elliott (one), and Terry Labonte (one).
The wily veteran achieved this feat in a fuel-mileage race at Michigan International Speedway, his 701st start. The process started as he pushed the pace while leader William Byron tried to save fuel.
Hamlin took the lead from the Hendrick Motorsports driver with four laps to go, and then he put some distance between himself and the rest of the field. Byron, who burned more fuel than the rest of the drivers while leading, ran out of gas coming to the white flag.
MORE: Hamlin wins, full results
Byron had to head down pit road before being credited with a 28th-place finish. Chris Buescher finished second, Ty Gibbs finished third, Bubba Wallace finished fourth, and Kyle Larson finished fifth.
DENNY HAMLIN WINS AT MICHIGAN! pic.twitter.com/Sb6CAPrSas
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While the 400-mile race featured five cautions for incidents on the track, only one took place in the final stage. Todd Gilliland blew a tire and made hard contact with the wall. This set up a 49-dash to the checkered flag.
Carson Hocevar was in control of the field after taking the lead on the final restart. He led 31 laps in the No. 77 Chevrolet, but he had to make an unscheduled pit stop after blowing a tire from the lead.
This moved Byron into the lead and set up an opportunity for him to snap Hendrick Motorsports' winless streak at Michigan. The last time the championship-winning team celebrated at the track was in 2014.
Byron led 15 laps after passing Hocevar, but it just wasn't meant to be for Hendrick Motorsports. He got loose after Hamlin packed some air on his No. 24 Chevrolet, and then he lost the lead after the two raced door-to-door for multiple laps.
This hard racing created concerns about Hamlin possibly running out of fuel, but the No. 11 team estimated correctly when they told the veteran that he had about a half-lap extra. He scored the win and joined the elite list in the process.
He also hit the fans with the "I beat your favorite driver" line for good measure.
"No, not really," Hamlin said about whether he had fuel concerns. "I wanted to get the lead. Obviously, he was doing a great job defending."
Hamlin now ties Christopher Bell and Larson for the most wins in the Cup Series season this season. All three drivers have three trips to victory lane.