Despite the rain threats, the pre-season exhibition at L.A. is finally over, and Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin has one more trophy to add to his collection of three Daytona 500, one Southern 500, and one Coca-Cola 600 wins after the veteran won it in style, capturing his first ever Clash win at the quarter-mile track.

The scene was electric: packed stands, crowds raining down cheers, an exhilarating race that had plenty of drama and action, and a great start to the tournament. At the end of the 150-lap fixture, Denny Hamlin, who started at the front, crossed the checkered flag first only to stick up one more and was seen mocking the crowd, once again.

Denny Hamlin kicks off 2024 in style, starting and finishing first

After 90 days of nothingness, NASCAR nation became lively when NASCAR’s new villain, Denny Hamlin, took over the former Olympic arena, which has been turned into a quarter mile for NASCAR’s season opener. The 43-year-old, using his new updated JGR Toyota, set the fastest pace to qualify with the best time to grab the pole.

Even though the driver lost the lead after a few initial laps, he found his way to the front in the closing laps of the race, methodically running down the pack. Reflecting on his win, Hamlin was delighted to add one more trophy to his collection. In the post-race interview, he said, “It feels great to win here in L.A. It’s just a great momentum boost; it does much more than that, but I clean up all the trophies every January first in the entryway of the house, and now I get to add one pretty quick, so really happy about that. 

Soon after, he asked for the mic, and just like his Bristol rant, he again rubbed more salt into the haters’ wounds, saying, “You know I beat your favorite driver again, right?” While the crowd last year flipped him the finger in disapproval, denouncing his win this time around, they just couldn’t ignore his win as they stood and cheered for the driver as he climbed back into his car to return it to the garage before he headed to Daytona next week.

WATCH THIS STORY: Hamlin’s worries over NASCAR charter negotiations 

Hamlin fends off Busch to win his first-ever Busch Light Clash Trophy

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10 laps remained to the checkered flag when the #11 JGR Toyota came right back like a swift gust, blowing the competition out as Denny Hamlin put on an exceptional rally to come home victorious with another trophy in his hand. Even though it was a non-point race, Hamlin’s L.A. triumph marks his 52nd win in NASCAR’s elite division and boy, that did not come easy.

He then held off the 2-time Cup Series champion, Kyle Busch, in a two-lap overtime as those behind Hamlin bumped and banged off each other, battling for position. Calling the win a “big momentum boost,” Hamlin said, “I got a really good run off of Turn 2 and got position and was able to hang on from there. It’s so chaotic with the restarts with everyone just bumping and banging but it feels good to win here in L.A.”

While at first, it was going to be the #8 RCR car that would cross the finish line first, with “Rowdy” Busch slowly closing in on the leader, Denny Hamlin’s late rally really gave him the edge, giving him a smoke show at L.A. and winning the clash.

READ MORE: Pole Sitter Denny Hamlin Falls Off as Kyle Larson Edges Past at Clash at the Coliseum