Hamlin and Busch take penalties; Elliott inherits Pocono win

Denny Hamlin claimed his 49th NASCAR Cup Series victory on Sunday at Pocono Raceway, tying Tony Stewart for 12th on the all-time list. Hamlin is also now the winningest driver at the 2.5-mile track, with seven career wins at Pennsylvania.

The "M&M's Fan Appreciation 400" saw a 13-lap green flag stretch to the end of the 160-lap event. The ninth and final yellow flag came out when the #11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota pushed the #1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet (Ross Chastain) to take the lead with 17 laps to go.

Hamlin's teammate Kyle Busch led 63 laps and finished second, 0s927 seconds behind the winner. Hendrick Motorsports' Chase Elliott was third, followed by Richard Childress Racing's Tyler Reddick and Trackhouse Racing's Daniel Suarez. Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, Michael McDowell, Martin Truex Jr. and Bubba Wallace rounded out the top 10.

Kyle Larson won the first stage on lap 30. Kyle Busch won second on lap 95. Hamlin, who started on pole, was third and fifth in the first two stages, after a pair of restart problems on lap 1 and lap 41.

NASCAR Xfinity Series regular Ty Gibbs made his NASCAR Cup Series debut, replacing Kurt Busch in the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota car. He was not medically cleared to race after his involvement in an accident in qualifying.

Ryan Blaney, the driver with the most points on the playoff bubble with five races remaining until the postseason, wrecked on lap 138, hitting the inside wall.

Update: Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch were penalized at post-race inspection. Thus, Chase Elliott inherits the win.

Race standings without the penalties: