The NASCAR Playoffs started the Round of 12 with the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway yesterday (9/26). Denny Hamlin started the Round of 12 the way he started the Round of 16 … Winning.

The race started with Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson looking like they would be the cars to beat to win the race. Kyle was able to win stage one of the race and 95 of the 267 laps in the race. Denny was able to win stage two and a race high 137 laps. Pit strategy in the second stage would slightly change the look of the race. It would put Denny out front and Kyle back playing catch-up.

As the laps would down it was Denny leading with Chase Elliott coming on strong with the hope of challenging for the win. In the end Denny just had too big a lead with enough speed to hold on for the win. It was Denny’s first win in the Cup Series at Las Vegas and his second win of the NASCAR Playoffs and 2021 season.

Chase Elliott did finish in second place. Kyle Busch claimed a third place finish. Martin Truex Jr. finished in fourth place with Ryan Blaney rounding out the top five. See the complete race results for the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway here.

The win gives Denny an automatic advance to the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Playoffs. That means he is sitting at the top of the Playoff Standings. Kyle Larson is in the second spot in the standings with Kyle Busch in third. You can see the complete 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Standings here.

Next up for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff drivers (and non-Playoff drivers) is the YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway Sunday, October 3rd.

By: Buck Stevens