NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) hosts the trophy after winning the Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway. Joe Puetz-Imagn Images

Denny Hamlin advances to second round of NASCAR playoffs with Gateway win

By Samuel Stubbs | Last updated Sep 7, 2025 6:40 PM ET

After finishing runner-up in the last two NASCAR Cup Series races at Gateway, Denny Hamlin got the job done on Sunday.

Hamlin, who started Sunday's Enjoy Illinois 300 from the pole, led the final 25 laps en route to his fifth victory of 2025 and the 59th triumph of his legendary career.

Hamlin built a steady gap to Southern 500 winner Chase Briscoe, crossing the line in front of his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate by 1.620 seconds.

From the #BuschLightPole to @WWTRaceway Victory Lane! @dennyhamlin wins and is through to the Round of 12! #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/4NEpL0r2Jh
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 7, 2025

"So happy to get this victory," Hamlin told USA Network. "My dad's not feeling well ... shout-out to him. The whole family is here. (This day) can't get any better."

Briscoe, Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano rounded out the top five, with John Hunter Nemechek, Christopher Bell, Stage 2 winner Bubba Wallace, Chris Buescher and Ty Gibbs completing the top-10.

Other notable finishers include Daytona 500 champion William Byron in 11th, Kyle Larson in 12th, Tyler Reddick in 16th, Austin Dillon in 18th, Austin Cindric in 19th, Ross Chastain in 24th, Shane van Gisbergen in 25th, Alex Bowman in 26th and Josh Berry in 36th.

The Round of 16 for the NASCAR Cup Series will conclude at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday.

Samuel Stubbs

Hailing from the same neck of the woods as NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, Samuel has been covering NASCAR for Yardbarker since February 2024. He has been a member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) since October of 2024. When he’s not writing about racing, Samuel covers Arkansas Razorback basketball for Yardbarker

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