TC Daily Pit Stop: Denny Hamlin Snags 200th Win for Toyota at WWT Raceway; Berry Exits Second Playoff Race Early

TC Daily Pit Stop: Monday, September 8, 2025

Sep 08, 2025

“You can either get on the bandwagon or get run over by it.”

After having to count every single point in the opening round of the Playoffs last year, Denny Hamlin is going to head to Bristol Motor Speedway (the first elimination race of the postseason), being able to breathe much easier, winning Sunday’s Enjoy Illinois 300 at WWT Raceway.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver was able to park his No. 11 Progressive Insurance Toyota Camry XSE in Victory Lane on Sunday after leading a race-high 75 laps, with the strategy falling perfectly into the lap of the NASCAR Cup Series veteran.

By the end of the final 25-lap run, Hamlin had extended his advantage over second place to 1.620 seconds. The victory marks the 59th of Hamlin’s NASCAR Cup Series career at the 200th at NASCAR’s top-level for Toyota GAZOO Racing.

“It’s so big for everyone at Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing. The Progressive Toyota was great there at the end,” said Hamlin. “So happy to get this victory. My dad’s not feeling well at home. Just shout-out to him. The whole family’s here. Fantastic day. Man, couldn’t be better.”

Josh Berry’s Disastrous Playoffs Start Continues With Lap 36 Crash at Gateway

Josh Berry crashed on Lap 36 of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Gateway — Craig White | TobyChristie.com

You couldn’t have written a more horrendous start to Josh Berry’s first career NASCAR Cup Series Playoff run than what has transpired in real life.

Berry, who crashed in Turn 1 on the opening lap of last week’s Playoff-opening race at Darlington Raceway, will begin the Round of 16 of the Playoffs with back-to-back last-place finishes as he crashed hard on Lap 36 of Sunday’s Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway.

The incident was triggered by contact with Chase Elliott as Berry was in the middle of a three-wide battle with Elliott and Joey Logano in Turn 2.