Sport

Drivers React to Denny Hamlin's Triumph at Darlington Raceway – Insights and Highlights!

2025-04-07

Author: Jessica Wong

Denny Hamlin celebrated a thrilling victory at Darlington Raceway, expressing his heartfelt appreciation for his pit crew and fellow driver Kyle Larson's assist. "There are two people I love right now: my pit crew and Kyle Larson. They did an amazing job! This win was all about them," he proclaimed after securing the Cup win.

Finishing in second place, William Byron elaborated on his team's effort: "I’m really proud of my team for the preparation and execution throughout the race. It felt like we were going to lead every lap. Unfortunately, losing control later on cost us dearly. It stings right now, but there are many positives to take from this experience."

Christopher Bell, who claimed third, found the race quite perplexing. "The car was struggling early on, but a timely yellow flag helped me gain momentum. Once we capitalized on our pit stops, we turned what could have been a lackluster race into a top-five finish. Proud of my crew for the execution!"

Ryan Blaney expressed his mixed feelings after finishing fifth. "I thought we had a chance to win, and I still need to review how the caution affected our strategy. We executed our long-run strategy well, but some late cautions hurt us. Regardless, I'm proud of my team for their effort."

Chris Buescher, coming in sixth, praised his team’s adaptability. "We had a fast Ford Mustang, and we made great adjustments in practice that led to a strong performance today. Sadly, we encountered an unfortunate caution that delayed our pace, but we clawed our way back through great pit stops."

Ross Chastain, finishing seventh, noted, "Darlington is always a challenging track. We navigated some early struggles but made solid adjustments to work our way into the top 10. It was satisfying to finish strong, and I’m looking forward to Bristol next weekend."

Ty Gibbs managed to secure ninth place, feeling optimistic about future races: "This was a good step forward. I know better results are coming, and I’m excited about the road ahead."

Austin Cindric, who finished 11th, reflected on the race's challenges: "We had a strong start, but a caution put us a lap down, which set us back. We made some adjustments that improved the balance of the car, and I'm pleased with how we fought back."

Daniel Suarez expressed his disappointment in a 15th-place finish: "We struggled with balance and the strategy didn’t work in our favor. It was an average race for us, and we'll work hard to improve before the next round."

Ty Dillon, crossing the line 16th, acknowledged his team's resilience: "We faced several setbacks, including an issue on pit road. But the team's determination kept us calm and focused, and we managed to salvage some stage points."

AJ Allmendinger cited frustration with the second half of the race, finishing in 18th. "We started strong, but adjustments didn't keep up with changes on the track. I know we could have performed better, so we’ll evaluate and come back stronger."

Shane van Gisbergen, who finished 20th, shared insights on the race's ups and downs: "We began with good momentum but struggled to find the right handling mid-race. A top-20 finish feels like a decent outcome, and I’m looking to build on this for the coming races."

Michael McDowell, unfortunately, finished near the back in 29th. "It was a tough day for us. We began in the top-10 but lost our balance early on. We need to analyze where we went wrong and ensure we come back stronger next race."

As the NASCAR Cup Series continues, drivers and teams must navigate these challenges while preparing for upcoming races, with everyone eager to capitalize on their lessons learned at Darlington. What will the next race hold? Stay tuned!