After tying Kyle Busch with his 63rd NASCAR Cup Series victory at Michigan, Denny Hamlin used his post-race celebration to recognize the late driver whose career he had just matched on the all-time wins list.
Hamlin carried a black No. 18 flag out of his car window during his victory lap and dedicated the win to Busch, his longtime Joe Gibbs Racing teammate. The two spent nearly two decades racing together, combining for more than 120 Cup Series victories while helping establish Joe Gibbs Racing as one of NASCAR's premier organizations.
The gesture drew comparisons to one of NASCAR's most memorable tributes. The gesture drew comparisons to one of NASCAR's most memorable tributes. Jeff Gordon flew a flag at Phoenix honoring the late Dale Earnhardt after tying his 76 NASCAR Cup Series victories in 2007.
With the win, Hamlin moved into a tie with Busch for 11th on NASCAR's all-time Cup Series wins list, but his celebration ensured the story was about more than the number itself.
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