Hamlin was out front but out of fresh tires and trying to hang on to the lead when he got unintended help from Kyle Busch when the reigning Cup Series champion caused Chase Elliott to crash eight laps earlier to bring out the caution.
Busch made contact with Chase Elliott while they battled for second, sending Elliott’s No. 9 Chevrolet spinning before it slammed into the inside wall.
Hamlin was leading when the rain drops began falling. Officials threw the caution flag on lap 202 before the race was declared official on Lap 208.
It was Hamlin’s second win of the season after winning the season opening Daytona 500 and the third of his career at Darlington.
Wednesday’s race was the second at Darlington Raceway in four days after the series suspended competition on March 13 because of the coronavirus pandemic. NASCAR successfully made its return Sunday by using a a strict health protocol and limiting those in attendance to only the most essential for conducting a race.
The health screenings were held again before Wednesday’s race and every driver was cleared to participate. The race was again being run without spectators and only 16 people are permitted per entry.
