Winners and losers from NASCAR’s throwback weekend at Darlington

Denny Hamlin earned his 56th profession Cup win whereas Brandon Jones earned his first Xfinity win in three years at Darlington this weekend. The historical past of the game was as soon as once more honored by some distinctive paint schemes whereas stars of the game took purpose on the custom. In the meantime, Ryan Blaney can not seem to catch a break and Kyle Larson could not cease his wounded automobile from being a part of the ultimate final result.

Here is a take a look at the most important winners and losers from Darlington:

WINNER: Denny Hamlin goes back-to-back, due to his pit crew

For the primary time since 2012, Hamlin has received back-to-back Cup races. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver appears to be in peak kind regardless of some vital low season adjustments, together with the lack of long-time backer FedEx and a shock change in crew chief. There was no ’11 in opposition to the world flag’ on show this week, and it was a really completely different victory from one week in the past. Whereas he dominated over half the race at Martinsville, he led only a handful of laps at Darlington, lurking simply past the race leaders till the ultimate pit cease of the race vaulted him to the entrance. The No. 11 staff is without doubt one of the quickest on pit highway, using an attention-grabbing behind-the-back maneuver with the jack to get across the automobile faster.

LOSER: Larson spins twice and leaves empty-handed

Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Picture by: Getty Photographs

This can be a race Kyle Larson goes to wish to neglect. The day began effectively, successful ‘Greatest in Present’ for his throwback scheme. Nevertheless, the Kellogg’s-inspired automobile didn’t look that good for lengthy. Larson spun out on his personal throughout the first 5 laps of the race, destroying the entrance of the automobile. He returned to the race over 160 laps down, solely to be concerned in one other incident in the identical spot with lower than 5 laps to go within the race. He slowed down abruptly upon seeing Tyler Reddick get into the wall, however in making an attempt to keep away from being a part of a race-altering incident, he as a substitute induced it. Bubba Wallace couldn’t react in time, spinning Larson out in a warning that finally value Ryan Blaney the race win.

WINNER: Byron’s surprising domination

Watch: William Byron unable to provide you with Darlington win: ‘Nonetheless numerous positives’

William Byron did not win Sunday’s race at Darlington, however he made fairly the assertion anyway. He led the primary 243 laps unopposed with no single lead change — it is domination that hasn’t been seen in 25 years. He solely misplaced the lead resulting from a late spherical of green-flag pit stops, however nonetheless rallied again to complete second in time beyond regulation. He ended up main an astonishing 81.8% of the laps, additional cementing his place atop the championship standings.

LOSER: One step ahead and two steps again for Ryan Blaney

Watch: Ryan Blaney on Darlington heartbreak: ‘I assumed we had the race received’

Blaney entered Darlington on the again of three DNFs within the final 4 races, however his long-run velocity in observe made the driving force of the No. 12 appear like one of many drivers to beat on Sunday. On race day, he was one of many solely drivers who may persistently go vehicles all through a run, which is lucky contemplating simply what number of vehicles he needed to go. Between ill-timed cautions and sluggish pit stops, Blaney discovered himself preventing by the sector for many of the race. He lastly made it to the lead for the very first time with lower than 5 laps to go, however a sudden warning once more derailed his hopes but once more. He misplaced a number of spots on pit highway and will solely handle fifth ultimately. 

WINNER: Ty Gibbs stops the bleeding

Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Picture by: James Gilbert / Getty Photographs

2025 has been a battle for Gibbs, scoring only a few factors up till the final two weeks, trapped on the very backside of the standings. He began to show issues round at Martinsville, scoring some stage factors and ending thirteenth. Additional enhancements had been made at Darlington, ending ninth. He is now as much as Twenty sixth in factors, which is much away from the place he must be, however nonetheless a lot better than the place he was.

LOSER: No repeat win for Keselowski

Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

Picture by: James Gilbert / Getty Photographs

One other driver who wanted to show issues round was Brad Keselowski. The defending winner of this 400-mile race at Darlington, expectations had been excessive for RFK. At one level, all three vehicles had been working within the high ten, however a unfastened wheel derailed Keselowski’s day in the course of the second stage. He by no means recovered, ending thirty third. The 2012 Cup Collection champion is averaging a Twenty sixth-place end this 12 months and presently sits thirty first within the standings.

WINNER: Brandon Jones snaps a three-year winless streak

Watch: Brandon Jones victorious at Darlington: ‘It is good to show haters fallacious once more’

Switching gears to the Xfinity Collection for a second, we’ve to shout out Brandon Jones. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver snapped a three-year winless streak, doing so in a race that featured Cup stars Chase Elliott, Ross Chastain and Christopher Bell. It was a implausible exhibiting by Jones, who now has six wins within the Xfinity Collection.

LOSER: These hating on ‘Throwback Weekend’

Josh Berry, Wooden Brothers Racing Ford

Picture by: James Gilbert / Getty Photographs

Chase Elliott was one of many extra outspoken drivers this weekend, however he wasn’t the one one with regards to the idea of Throwback Weekend. The consensus amongst some drivers is that it has run its course and must be executed away with. Whereas it is true that solely half of the Cup Collection subject took half and a few sponsors are getting in the best way of them taking part, ‘Throwback Weekend’ is a lot greater than the paint schemes. It is about honoring the historical past of the game and whether or not three or 30 groups participate would not change how necessary it’s. NASCAR Corridor of Famer Carl Edwards waved the inexperienced flag, Richard and Kyle Petty joined the published sales space to share tales and historic race vehicles had been paraded across the observe. It is an awesome custom and may proceed. Sure, many of the apparent throwback concepts have been executed to dying, however nonetheless, there have been groups just like the Wooden Brothers arising with distinctive concepts. And so long as it continues to actively honor the previous, Throwback Weekend has a spot in NASCAR.