Denny Hamlin delivered under the lights at World Wide Technology Raceway, holding off teammate Chase Briscoe to capture the Enjoy Illinois 300 on Sunday — his fifth win of the season and his first in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
Hamlin’s victory, in a race featuring 10 cautions and wreck-filled chaos, secured more valuable playoff points and further cemented his reputation as one of NASCAR’s great closers.
Top 5 Finishers – Enjoy Illinois 300
- Denny Hamlin
- Chase Briscoe
- Chase Elliott
- Ryan Blaney
- Joey Logano
Chaos Everywhere You Look
- Josh Berry’s heartbreak continues: After wrecking at Darlington last week, Berry was taken out again following early contact with Chase Elliott. His playoff hopes are in tatters.
- Tyler Reddick’s pit box drama: A loose left-rear wheel forced him to dive into Hamlin’s stall to fix the issue — a bizarre twist that ultimately didn’t derail Hamlin’s victory march.
- Ryan Blaney vs. Kyle Larson: Blaney was furious after Larson spun him in Stage 2 while battling for fifth, ratcheting up playoff tensions.
- The Dillon brothers’ mess: Ty Dillon hit the wall twice, with his own brother Austin Dillon responsible for one incident.
- Stage chaos: Briscoe won Stage 1 but later wrecked Daniel Suárez, ending the Trackhouse driver’s day. Bubba Wallace dominated Stage 2 for his fourth stage win of the year but lost momentum after a restart misfire.
- Shane van Gisbergen spun in the late melee, continuing a nightmare playoff stretch.
Star Power at Gateway
Adding to the spectacle, legendary actor and comedian Bill Murray served as Grand Marshal. Murray’s trademark charisma electrified the crowd with his raucous command to “start your engines,” setting the tone for a bruising, physical race.
What’s Next
The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs roll on to the Bristol Night Race next Saturday — the cutoff race for the Round of 16. With Hamlin and Briscoe locked in, and names like Berry, van Gisbergen, and Bowman on the brink, it’s shaping up to be an elimination showdown under the lights.
