Hamlin Edges Byron for Michigan Xfinity Win

LAT Photographic

BROOKLYN, MI – RIS – Denny Hamlin held of a charging William Byron to win the Irish Hills 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Michigan International Speedway.  The race began with a bang when Brad Keselowski made contact with Kyle Busch on the restart and ended with a close run to the checkers, much to the fans delight.

Hamlin inched ahead of William Byron on the final turn and nosed out the rookie at the finish line, winning Saturday in the closest NASCAR Xfinity race at Michigan International Speedway since the advent of electronic scoring in the series.

“We went so low down the back straightaway that there was dust and stuff flying off the tires,” Hamlin said.

It was Hamlin’s 16th career Xfinity victory and first in three starts this year, but the 19-year-old Byron made him earn it. Byron led after a restart with two laps remaining, but Hamlin pressured him the rest of the way , and the Cup Series veteran eventually prevailed by 0.012 seconds in his No. 20 Toyota.

The two cars crossed the finish line next to each other, with Hamlin barely ahead on the inside.

“It was a lot of fun,” Byron said. “He just had enough air down there to get to the side of us, and it was just a race to the line after that.”

The previous track record for closest victory margin was 0.192 seconds by Todd Bodine on Aug. 19, 2000.

Elliott Sadler was also in the mix during the final lap and finished third in the 125-lap, 250-mile race. He took over the series points lead from Justin Allgaier.

Busch and Keselowski were 1-2 after qualifying, giving this Xfinity race a couple of big names at the front.

Seconds after the start, Busch drifted slightly to the right, and Keselowski made contact from behind on the outside.

“I don’t think he knew I was there,” Keselowski said. “I lifted the best I could, I guess I just didn’t do a good enough job lifting. I was already pulling up alongside of him.”

Keselowski led many laps, but his car faltered on the final restart and he had to settle for a top five finish on this day.

Keselowski finished fourth and Busch was fifth.

Unofficial Race Results for the 26Th Annual Irish Hills 250 - Michigan International Speedway - Brooklyn, MI - Total Race Length 125 Laps - 250 Miles

Fin, Str, Driver, Car, Laps, Pts, Status, Tms, Laps, St1, St2, Playoff Pts
1) 5, Denny Hamlin(i), No. 20 Hisense Toyota, 125, 0, Running, 3, 34, 2, 10, 
2) 4, William Byron #, No. 9 Liberty University Chevrolet, 125, 41, Running, 1, 8, 5, , 
3) 3, Elliott Sadler, No. 1 OneMain Financial Chevrolet, 125, 52, Running, 2, 14, 3, 1, 1
4) 2, Brad Keselowski(i), No. 22 Discount Tire Ford, 125, 0, Running, 3, 54, 1, , 
5) 1, Kyle Busch(i), No. 18 NOS Energy Drink Toyota, 125, 0, Running, , , , , 
6) 17, Ty Dillon(i), No. 3 Rheem Chevrolet, 125, 0, Running, , , 8, , 
7) 10, Paul Menard(i), No. 2 Richmond/Menards Chevrolet, 125, 0, Running, , , 4, , 
8) 20, Ryan Reed, No. 16 Lilly Diabetes Ford, 125, 29, Running, , , , , 
9) 11, Brandon Jones, No. 33 Nexteer Automotive Chevrolet, 125, 33, Running, , , , 6, 
10) 7, Cole Custer #, No. 00 Haas Automation Ford, 125, 29, Running, 1, 15, 9, , 
11) 15, Brennan Poole, No. 48 DC Solar Chevrolet, 125, 35, Running, , , , 2, 
12) 16, Daniel Hemric #, No. 21 Blue Gate Bank Chevrolet, 125, 25, Running, , , , , 
13) 6, Tyler Reddick, No. 42 BBR/Jason Aldean Chevrolet, 125, 29, Running, , , 6, , 
14) 23, Brendan Gaughan, No. 62 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet, 125, 30, Running, , , , 4, 
15) 18, Ryan Sieg, No. 39 RSS Racing Chevrolet, 125, 22, Running, , , , , 
16) 22, Justin Allgaier, No. 7 Suave Men Chevrolet, 125, 30, Running, , , 10, 3, 
17) 13, Blake Koch, No. 11 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet, 125, 26, Running, , , , 5, 
18) 8, Spencer Gallagher #, No. 23 Allegiant Airlines Chevrolet, 125, 23, Running, , , 7, , 
19) 24, Ross Chastain, No. 4 teamjdmotorsports.com Chevrolet, 125, 22, Running, , , , 7, 
20) 28, Dakoda Armstrong, No. 28 WinField United Toyota, 125, 17, Running, , , , , 
21) 38, David Starr, No. 99 Victory Lane Quick Oil Change Chevrolet, 125, 16, Running, , , , , 
22) 27, Harrison Rhodes, No. 01 teamjdmotorsports.com Chevrolet, 125, 18, Running, , , , 8, 
23) 19, Jeremy Clements, No. 51 RepairableVehicles.com Chevrolet, 125, 14, Running, , , , , 
24) 30, Dylan Lupton, No. 24 Nut Up Toyota, 125, 13, Running, , , , , 
25) 35, Joey Gase, No. 52 Franklin Signs & Graphics Chevrolet, 124, 12, Running, , , , , 
26) 14, Matt Tifft #, No. 19 Tunity Toyota, 124, 11, Running, , , , , 
27) 32, Josh Bilicki, No. 40 CNC Swiss/X-TREME PH Chevrolet, 123, 10, Running, , , , , 
28) 34, Tommy Joe Martins, No. 78 Diamond Gusset Jeans Chevrolet, 122, 9, Running, , , , , 
29) 26, Garrett Smithley, No. 0 Operating Engineers Local 324 Chevrolet, 122, 8, Running, , , , , 
30) 29, BJ McLeod, No. 8  Chevrolet, 122, 7, Running, , , , , 
31) 33, Korbin Forrister(i), No. 07 All Secure Chevrolet, 122, 0, Running, , , , , 
32) 40, Mike Harmon, No. 74 Veterans Motorsports Dodge, 120, 5, Running, , , , , 
33) 31, Brandon Brown, No. 90 Coastal Carolina University Chevrolet, 118, 4, Running, , , , , 
34) 36, Josh Williams, No. 92  Chevrolet, 66, 5, Electrical, , , , 9, 
35) 25, Jeff Green, No. 93 RSS Racing Chevrolet, 44, 2, Vibration, , , , , 
36) 12, Ben Kennedy, No. 96 Weber Chevrolet, 41, 1, Accident, , , , , 
37) 9, Michael Annett, No. 5 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet, 38, 1, Accident, , , , , 
38) 21, JJ Yeley, No. 14 TriStar Motorsports Toyota, 37, 1, Accident, , , , , 
39) 39, Timmy Hill, No. 13 OCR Gaz Bar Toyota, 20, 1, Steering, , , , , 
40) 37, Morgan Shepherd, No. 89  Chevrolet, 19, 1, Suspension, , , , , 
(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series, (#) Rookie

Time of Race: 02 Hrs, 00 Mins, 19 Secs. Average Speed: 124.671 MPH Margin of Victory: 0.012 Seconds
Before the start of the event, these cars dropped to the rear of the field reason indicated: Nos. 21 (unapproved  adjustment) and 96 (tire change). 
Caution Flags: 7 for 32 laps: Laps: 2-5 (No. 18, 22 Incident Frontstretch [None]); 32-37 (Stage 1 Conclusion [0]); 39-43 (No. 5, 14, 33, 96 Incident Backstretch [90]); 58-64 (Debris Turn 4 / Stage 2 Conclusion [28]); 84-87 (Debris Turn 1 [99]); 113-116 (Debris Turn 2 [99]); 122-123 (No. 19 Incident Frontstretch [52]).
Lead Changes: 10 among 5 drivers:  0; B. Keselowski(i) 1-32; D. Hamlin(i) 33; C. Custer # 34-48; B. Keselowski(i) 49-57; E. Sadler 58-70; B. Keselowski(i) 71-83; E. Sadler 84; D. Hamlin(i) 85-116; W. Byron # 117-124; D. Hamlin(i) 125; 
Coors Light Pole Award: Kyle Busch, No. 18 193.564 mph Duralast Brakes "Brake in the Race": Brad Keselowski, No. 22 
Mahle Clevite Engine Builder of the Race: Roush-Yates Engines, #22  Mobil 1 Driver of the Race: Denny Hamlin, No. 20 
Sunoco Rookie of the Race: William Byron, No. 9