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Goodyear 400 at Darlington Wrap-Up: Hamlin Hustles to Victory in a Throwback Thriller

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Hey there race fans!
Bryan here, back with your weekly NASCAR rundown—and oh man, Darlington did not disappoint! The Goodyear 400 gave us everything we’ve come to expect from the Lady in Black: wild restarts, long green-flag runs, tire management chaos, and a late-race twist that left jaws on the floor.

This race is one of my favorites every season—not just because of the throwback paint schemes (though those are always very cool), but because Darlington rewards true grit. If you survive here, you earn every inch of that finish. And for us fantasy junkies? It’s one of the most unpredictable weeks of the season… which, of course, makes it all the more fun.

So, let’s break it all down—who crushed it, who got crushed, and how my fantasy picks fared in the mayhem.

Hamlin Hustles to the Win

Denny Hamlin proved (again) why he’s a master of Darlington. With just a few laps to go, it looked like William Byron might finally get his redemption after dominating all day. But a perfectly timed pit stop and an ice-cold restart in overtime gave Hamlin the edge—and he never looked back.

This win marks Hamlin’s fifth career victory at Darlington, and it also bumped him past Rusty Wallace on the all-time wins list. Not a bad way to wrap up throwback weekend, huh?

What’s even wilder is that William Byron led a whopping 243 laps—but had to settle for P2. You could tell he was disappointed, but he still walked away proud of the effort. And honestly? He should be.

My Fantasy Picks: Who Hit, Who Missed, and Who Got the Darlington Stripe

Let’s get into the meat of it—how did my fantasy squad do this week?

Main Driver: Tyler Reddick

Tyler Reddick showed up ready to dance with the Lady in Black—and for a while there, it looked like he might just steal the show. He led laps late, had great long-run speed, and honestly had a top-three car most of the day.

But because it’s Darlington, of course there had to be a late caution to shake things up. Reddick got shuffled on the restart, lost track position, and had to settle for 4th place. Still a great result—and exactly why I’ve got him locked in for the season.

Verdict: ✅ Solid. That’s what we like to see from our main guy.

My Other 2 Picks Inside The Top 12

Ah, Kyle Larson. This one was a rollercoaster from the jump. He got shuffled back early and just couldn’t seem to get into a groove. Between the handling issues and getting caught up in traffic, it was a rough start—and you could tell the No. 5 team was chasing the car all day long.

But credit where it’s due: he did start climbing back into it. Just when I thought he might salvage a decent finish… bam—late-race spin, hard into the wall, and a 37th-place finish that made my fantasy points cry a little.

Verdict: ❌ Total heartbreaker. I’ll be muttering about this one until Bristol.

Denny Hamlin
Now this pick? Chef’s kiss. Hamlin did exactly what I was hoping for—and then some. He played it smart all race, kept his nose clean, and when it mattered most, his pit crew nailed the final stop. From there, Denny took the lead on the restart and never looked back.

That win gives him his fifth career Darlington victory, and if you had him in your lineup like I did, you’re probably smiling just as much as he was in Victory Lane.

Verdict: ✅ MVP of the week. Veteran pick that paid off big.

Outside the Top 12 Picks

Kyle Busch
Rowdy wasn’t exactly lighting up the ticker, but he kept it steady and stayed out of trouble—which, let’s be honest, is half the battle at Darlington. He brought it home in 10th place, which I’ll take any day from a guy who’s been hot and cold this year.

Verdict: ✅ Quietly effective. Might not win you the week, but won’t wreck it either.

Josh Berry
I had high hopes for Berry—he’s shown flashes of brilliance this season—but Darlington wasn’t the breakthrough moment I was hoping for. He ran into some handling issues early and never quite got into the mix. Finished somewhere outside the top 20 and didn’t make much fantasy noise.

Verdict: ❌ Sleeper stayed asleep. Still rooting for him, though.

Ryan Preece
Alright, this one was a gamble—and it didn’t pay off. Preece never really found his stride. He struggled with pace and got stuck mid-pack most of the race. He ended up finishing well back in the field, and let’s just say it didn’t help my leaderboard status.

Verdict: ❌ Took a swing… and whiffed. It happens.

Up Next: Bristol Under the Lights

Next stop: Bristol Motor Speedway for the Food City 500—and if Darlington was gritty, Bristol is downright brutal. It’s short-track chaos, bumper-to-bumper racing, and usually at least one driver leaving the track steamed.

I’ll be back later this week with my top 12 breakdown and of course my fantasy picks post for Bristol. You won’t want to miss it.

Final Thoughts

Darlington was everything we hoped for—historic, hard-fought, and full of surprises. Our fantasy squad had some big wins (looking at you, Denny) and a few stumbles (sigh, Larson), but that’s the fun of it, right?

Thanks for reading… Let’s get ready for Bristol!

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Bryan
"🏁 Cruising the fast lane for over a decade at DrivingOnMarbles.com! 🚗 Passionate about all things NASCAR and dedicated to connecting fellow fans. Gear up and join the race with me! 🏎️💨 #10YearsAndCounting"