NASCAR Cup Darlington
Winners and losers from NASCAR's throwback weekend at Darlington
NASCAR's 'Throwback Weekend' saw a familiar face in Victory Lane and plenty of fascinating paint schemes on the track.
Nick DeGroot
Edited: Apr 9, 2025, 1:35 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Photo by: James Gilbert / Getty Images
Denny Hamlin earned his 56th career Cup win while Brandon Jones earned his first Xfinity win in three years at Darlington this weekend. The history of the sport was once again honored through some unique paint schemes while stars of the sport took aim at the tradition. Meanwhile, Ryan Blaney can't seem to catch a break and Kyle Larson couldn't stop his wounded car from being part of the final outcome.
Here's a look at the biggest winners and losers from Darlington:
WINNER: Denny Hamlin goes back-to-back, thanks to his pit crew
Watch: Back-to-back: Denny Hamlin pulls away in OT to capture Darlington win
For the first time since 2012, Hamlin has won back-to-back Cup races. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver seems to be in peak form despite some significant off-season changes, including the loss of long-time backer FedEx and a surprise change in crew chief. There was no '11 against the world flag' on display this week, and it was a very different victory from one week ago. While he dominated over half the race at Martinsville, he led just a handful of laps at Darlington, lurking just beyond the race leaders until the final pit stop of the race vaulted him to the front. The No. 11 team is one of the fastest on pit road, utilizing an interesting behind-the-back maneuver with the jack to get around the car quicker.
LOSER: Larson spins twice and leaves empty-handed
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Photo by: Getty Images
This is a race Kyle Larson is going to want to forget. The day started well, winning 'Best in Show' for his throwback scheme. However, the Kellogg's-inspired car did not look that good for long. Larson spun out on his own within the first five laps of the race, destroying the front of the car. He returned to the race over 160 laps down, only to be involved in another incident in the same spot with less than five laps to go in the race. He slowed down abruptly upon seeing Tyler Reddick get into the wall, but in trying to avoid being part of a race-altering incident, he instead caused it. Bubba Wallace could not react in time, spinning Larson out in a caution that ultimately cost Ryan Blaney the race win.
WINNER: Byron's shocking domination
Watch: William Byron unable to come up with Darlington win: 'Still a lot of positives'
William Byron didn't win Sunday's race at Darlington, but he made quite the statement anyway. He led the first 243 laps unopposed without a single lead change -- it's domination that hasn't been seen in 25 years. He only lost the lead due to a late round of green-flag pit stops, but still rallied back to finish second in overtime. He ended up leading an astonishing 81.8% of the laps, further cementing his place atop the championship standings.
LOSER: One step forward and two steps back for Ryan Blaney
Watch: Ryan Blaney on Darlington heartbreak: 'I thought we had the race won'
Blaney entered Darlington on the back of three DNFs in the last four races, but his long-run speed in practice made the driver of the No. 12 look like one of the drivers to beat on Sunday. On race day, he was one of the only drivers who could consistently pass cars throughout a run, which is fortunate considering just how many cars he had to pass. Between ill-timed cautions and slow pit stops, Blaney found himself fighting through the field for most of the race. He finally made it to the lead for the very first time with less than five laps to go, but a sudden caution again derailed his hopes yet again. He lost several spots on pit road and could only manage fifth in the end.
WINNER: Ty Gibbs stops the bleeding
Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Photo by: James Gilbert / Getty Images
2025 has been a struggle for Gibbs, scoring very few points up until the last two weeks, trapped at the very bottom of the standings. He started to turn things around at Martinsville, scoring some stage points and finishing 13th. Further improvements were made at Darlington, finishing ninth. He's now up to 26th in points, which is far away from where he should be, but still much better than where he was.
LOSER: No repeat win for Keselowski
Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Photo by: James Gilbert / Getty Images
Another driver who needed to turn things around was Brad Keselowski. The defending winner of this 400-mile race at Darlington, expectations were high for RFK. At one point, all three cars were running in the top ten, but a loose wheel derailed Keselowski's day in the middle of the second stage. He never recovered, finishing 33rd. The 2012 Cup Series champion is averaging a 26th-place finish this year and currently sits 31st in the standings.
WINNER: Brandon Jones snaps a three-year winless streak
Watch: Brandon Jones victorious at Darlington: 'It's nice to prove haters wrong again'
Switching gears to the Xfinity Series for a moment, we have to shout out Brandon Jones. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver snapped a three-year winless streak, doing so in a race that featured Cup stars Chase Elliott, Ross Chastain and Christopher Bell. It was a fantastic showing by Jones, who now has six wins in the Xfinity Series.
LOSER: Those hating on 'Throwback Weekend'
Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford
Photo by: James Gilbert / Getty Images
Chase Elliott was one of the more outspoken drivers this weekend, but he wasn't the only one when it comes to the concept of Throwback Weekend. The consensus among some drivers is that it has run its course and should be done away with. While it's true that only half of the Cup Series field took part and some sponsors are getting in the way of them participating, 'Throwback Weekend' is so much more than the paint schemes. It's about honoring the history of the sport and whether three or 30 teams take part doesn't change how important it is. NASCAR Hall of Famer Carl Edwards waved the green flag, Richard and Kyle Petty joined the broadcast booth to share stories and historic race cars were paraded around the track. It's a great tradition and should continue. Yes, most of the obvious throwback ideas have been done to death, but still, there were teams like the Wood Brothers coming up with unique ideas. And as long as it continues to actively honor the past, Throwback Weekend has a place in NASCAR.
Photos from Darlington - Race
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
2025 Darlington - Sunday
NASCAR Cup
51
Read Also:
NASCAR TruckIndy 500 racer, NASCAR team owner Shigeaki Hattori killed in traffic accident
NASCAR CupWho's at fault in the incident between Bubba Wallace and Kyle Larson?
NASCAR CupDenny Hamlin goes back-to-back, winning Darlington Cup race in overtime
NASCAR CupRyan Blaney: "Nothing ever really went our way" in Darlington Cup race
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Who's at fault in the incident between Bubba Wallace and Kyle Larson?
Next article Denny Hamlin claims rival had the "best car" in Darlington despite win
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Nick DeGroot
The ten closest finishes from the 2026 NASCAR season
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup 15 h
The ten closest finishes from the 2026 NASCAR season
Carson Hocevar and Cleetus McFarland win LeMullets 2026 in epic finish
General
General 1 d
Carson Hocevar and Cleetus McFarland win LeMullets 2026 in epic finish
9/11 after 25 years: How NASCAR went back racing following September 11 attacks
Feature
NASCAR Cup
Feature
NASCAR Cup 2 mo
9/11 after 25 years: How NASCAR went back racing following September 11 attacks
More from
Denny Hamlin
Hendrick Motorsports pokes fun at Denny Hamlin with Snickers photo: "That was all Rick"
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
4 d
Hendrick Motorsports pokes fun at Denny Hamlin with Snickers photo: "That was all Rick"
Winners and losers from a different NASCAR Cup finale at Homestead
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
5 d
Winners and losers from a different NASCAR Cup finale at Homestead
How Kyle Larson can lose the NASCAR Cup championship at Homestead
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Martinsville II
7 d
How Kyle Larson can lose the NASCAR Cup championship at Homestead
More from
Joe Gibbs Racing
Who won the teammate battles of NASCAR Cup 2026?
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
4 d
Who won the teammate battles of NASCAR Cup 2026?
NASCAR Cup Homestead starting lineup: Chase Briscoe snags pole over Hamlin
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
7 d
NASCAR Cup Homestead starting lineup: Chase Briscoe snags pole over Hamlin
Hamlin and Bell left with what could have been in NASCAR Chase
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
8 d
Hamlin and Bell left with what could have been in NASCAR Chase
Latest news
The ten closest finishes from the 2026 NASCAR season
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup 15 h
The ten closest finishes from the 2026 NASCAR season
‘Lewis suspected a conspiracy’ – Nico Rosberg explains how Lewis Hamilton F1 rivalry went awry at Mercedes
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 16 h
‘Lewis suspected a conspiracy’ – Nico Rosberg explains how Lewis Hamilton F1 rivalry went awry at Mercedes
BMW "proud of what we achieved" after securing runner-up in 2026 WEC
WEC
WEC WEC
Monza
17 h
BMW "proud of what we achieved" after securing runner-up in 2026 WEC
The numbers that reveal how sprint races have turned the MotoGP title fight upside down
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
19 h
The numbers that reveal how sprint races have turned the MotoGP title fight upside down
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe