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Denny Hamlin reacts to Ty Dillon Cinderella bracket run after Sonoma: 'Poor Alex Bowman'

Brian Jones Profile Picby: Brian Jones07/16/25brianjones_93
NASCAR In-Season Tournament bracket Ty Dillon
Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

Denny Hamlin got a front-row seat of Ty Dillon beating Alex Bowman in NASCAR’s In-Season challenge at Sonoma to advance in the bracket. On the Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin shared his reaction to Dillon continuing his run in the bracket.

“I could see it coming,” Denny Hamlin said. “Poor Alex Bowman. I think he outran him for most of the race. Next thing you know, some strategies come into play, some restarts, Ty was motivated and he got him in the last corner.

“It wasn’t crazy egregious either. He didn’t wreck him or anything like that. He just got to the bumper, shoved him up off the bottom. …And then once he gets beside him, he kind of gives him the door on the exit to make sure he gets fully clear. It was great execution of a bump and run.”

Hamlin admitted that he gave Ty Dillon a thumbs up after the move because it was “entertaining to watch.” Because nobody was pressuring Hamlin during the final lap, he had a view of Dillon and Alex Bowman going head-to-head for a spot in the semifinals in the NASCAR In-Season Challenge.

Denny Hamlin weighs in on the NASCAR In-Season Challenge bracket

Hamlin knows what it’s like to lose to Dillon in the In-Season Challenge since it happened to him in the first round. Because of the big wreck at the Atlanta track a few weeks back, Hamlin had a tough finish to the race, leading to Dillon advancing in the second round. Hamlin came into the tournament as the top seed, and Dillion was the No. 32 seed. After beating Hamlin, Dillon took down Brad Keselowski in the second round at the Chicago Street Race.

Dillon will go head-to-head with John Hunter Nemechek in the fourth round of the challenge, which will take place at Dover on Sunday. The winner will face the winner of the Tyler Reddick vs. Ty Gibbs matchup in the championship round next weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“You got to think, man, whoever wins that matchup between Reddick and Gibbs this weekend is going to be a heavy favorite at Indy,” Hamlin said. “…There’s not a lot of passing there. I think whoever comes out of the Toyota matchup is probably going to be your heavy favorite going into Indy.