Denny Hamlin added another signature moment to his future Hall of Fame NASCAR career on Sunday, May 17, 2026, winning the NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway and collecting the $1 million prize in front of a packed crowd at the “Monster Mile.”

The victory marked the first-ever NASCAR All-Star Race held at Dover and showcased a completely revamped event format that brought chaos, strategy, elimination drama, and one of the most entertaining finishes of the 2026 NASCAR season.

Hamlin, driving the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, outdueled teammate Chase Briscoe in a thrilling late-race battle during the final 200-lap segment to secure his second career NASCAR All-Star Race victory.

NASCAR Brings the All-Star Race to Dover
For the first time in the event’s 42-year history, NASCAR moved the All-Star Race to Dover Motor Speedway after several seasons at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The move gave the exhibition race a completely different identity.

Instead of short-track bumping and chaos, Dover delivered high-speed concrete racing where tire management, patience, and long-run speed became critical.

The one-mile concrete oval lived up to its “Monster Mile” nickname throughout the afternoon as drivers battled heavy tire wear, difficult restarts, and multiple accidents across all three segments.

New 2026 NASCAR All-Star Race Format Explained
NASCAR introduced one of the boldest All-Star formats in recent memory for the 2026 event.

​The race featured:

Every Cup Series car started the event, eliminating the traditional All-Star Open race. After the second segment, the field was cut from 36 cars down to 26 for the final showdown.

The inversion after Segment 1 created major traffic and forced top contenders to work through the field on Dover’s difficult concrete surface.

Hamlin and Briscoe Steal the Show
The race quickly turned into an in-house Joe Gibbs Racing battle between Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe.

Hamlin narrowly got the better of Briscoe in the opening segment, while Briscoe answered back during Segment 2 after charging through the inverted field.

Once the final 200-lap segment began, the two Toyota drivers separated themselves from the rest of the field.

Briscoe led 61 laps and repeatedly challenged Hamlin during long green-flag runs, but Hamlin’s veteran experience and tire conservation ultimately proved to be the difference late in the race.

With under 30 laps remaining, Hamlin made the decisive move for the lead and never looked back.

Dominant Numbers for Hamlin
Hamlin’s victory was backed by pure speed throughout the day.

​According to FOX Sports race data:

The win continued a strong 2026 campaign for Hamlin and reinforced Joe Gibbs Racing as one of the premier organizations in the NASCAR Cup Series garage.

Dover’s Concrete Surface Creates Chaos
The aggressive new format and Dover’s tight racing groove led to multiple incidents during the race.

​Several notable drivers were involved in crashes or heavy contact, including:

The accidents created additional pressure during the elimination portions of the event as drivers fought to survive long enough to advance into the 26-car final segment.

Daniel Suárez Wins the Fan Vote
One of the biggest side stories of the day involved Daniel Suárez.

Despite early damage after being caught in a Lap 2 stack-up, Suárez was voted into the final segment through the NASCAR Fan Vote.

The Spire Motorsports driver overcame repairs and multiple laps down to continue battling throughout the afternoon, giving fans one of the feel-good stories of the event.

Hamlin Continues Building His Legacy
Hamlin’s Dover victory added another major accomplishment to one of the most decorated careers in modern NASCAR.

Already known as one of the best drivers of his generation, Hamlin once again proved why he remains dangerous on concrete tracks and in pressure situations.

​The veteran has now:

The Monster Mile has historically rewarded veteran drivers who understand tire wear, patience, and timing — all strengths Hamlin showcased throughout the race.

NASCAR Leaves Dover with Momentum
The first-ever All-Star Race at Dover largely delivered for NASCAR.

The new format created unpredictability without sacrificing legitimate racing, and the Hamlin-Briscoe battle gave fans a memorable finish to cap the weekend.

Now, the Cup Series shifts its attention back to points racing next weekend with the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

But for one weekend, Dover belonged to Denny Hamlin.

​And once again, the veteran driver walked away with the spotlight — and the million-dollar payday.

​Don’t miss The S3 Podcast with Jeff Demers (JD) and Marnie Tisdale (Lady M), streaming every Friday at 4PM PST (schedule may vary based on live press coverage) on our YouTube channel. Catch the replay anytime on your favorite podcast platform! 
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Past NASCAR Coverage:
Corey Day Stuns Justin Allgaier Late to Win NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Race at Dover 
Kyle Busch Crushes the Field in NASCAR Truck Series Return to Dover at ECOSAVE 200 

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