Denny Hamlin stayed in control of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway, winning Stage 2 and continuing his strong run from the pole. Hamlin led 156 of the first 162 laps and maintained track position through pit cycles and restarts. The race reached the halfway point under green-flag conditions, with few lead changes.
Ty Gibbs ran second, followed by Joey Logano in third. Ryan Blaney and William Byron completed the top five at the end of Stage 2. The NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway continued with a steady pace and controlled action at the front.
Denny Hamlin Controls the NASCAR Cup Series Race Through Stage 2
Hamlin continued his strong performance into the second stage after winning Stage 1. He led most of the laps and stayed inside the top two positions throughout the race.
By Lap 101, Hamlin had led 95 laps and held a narrow gap over Gibbs. The race had seen one caution at that point, but Hamlin kept control through pit stops and restarts. His only pit stop came earlier in the run, where his team completed a four-tire change in 9.76 seconds.
As the race passed the one-third mark at Lap 130, Hamlin extended his lead again. He had led 124 of 130 laps and maintained an average running position near the front. Gibbs stayed close in second, while Logano moved into third.
Hamlin continued to manage traffic and maintain a steady gap. By Lap 148, he had stretched his lead to more than 1.5 seconds over Gibbs.
Cook out 400 at Martinsville Speedway Sees Key Battles Behind Hamlin
While Hamlin controlled the front, drivers battled for position behind him during the NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway.
On Lap 99, Gibbs moved past Byron for second position. At the same time, Austin Cindric challenged Byron for third. These moves reshaped the running order behind the leader.
Later, on Lap 122, Logano passed Cindric to take over third place. Gibbs held onto second and remained the closest challenger to Hamlin.
Pit stops also played a role in the running order. On Lap 87, all lead lap cars came to pit road under caution. Hamlin exited pit road first, keeping his advantage. Byron and Gibbs followed, maintaining their positions near the front.
Two penalties were issued during the caution. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was penalized for speeding on pit road, while Kyle Busch received a penalty for an uncontrolled tire.
Hamlin Wins Stage 2 at Martinsville Speedway
At the midpoint of the NASCAR Cup Series race, Hamlin remained the leader. By Lap 162, he had led 156 laps and held a gap of over one second to Gibbs.
The race had two cautions for 24 laps, but Hamlin maintained control on each restart. He secured the Stage 2 win with a consistent pace and strong track position.
Gibbs finished second in the stage, followed by Logano in third. Blaney moved into fourth, while Byron rounded out the top five.
Hamlin also posted the fastest lap of the race at 19.788 seconds and maintained an average running position near first place. He spent every lap inside the top two and avoided major challenges for the lead.
The NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway moved into the final stage with Hamlin still in control.
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