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In the pantheon of NASCAR’s most prestigious races, the "crown jewels" – the Daytona 500, the Coca-Cola 600, the Southern 500, and the Brickyard 400 – represent the pinnacle of achievement. Since the Indianapolis Motor Speedway welcomed stock cars in 1994, the "Grand Slam" of winning all four has become an aspirational goal, a feat accomplished by only a select few legends of the sport, all of whom are enshrined in the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Jeff Gordon first achieved this remarkable feat in 1997, followed by Dale Earnhardt in 1998, Jimmie Johnson in 2006, and Kevin Harvick in 2014. Since Harvick’s triumph, no other driver has managed to join this exclusive club, with drivers like Kyle Larson and Brad Keselowski holding three of the four jewels, and the late Kyle Busch having been on the cusp before his untimely passing.
Among the current generation of elite drivers, Denny Hamlin stands as a prominent contender for this coveted "Grand Slam," yet the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway remains a glaring omission in his otherwise decorated resume. Hamlin, a consistent front-runner and the winningest active driver in the Cup Series, has enjoyed a stellar 2024 season, already securing four victories. His trophy cabinet boasts three Daytona 500 wins (2016, 2019, 2020), three Southern 500 triumphs (2010, 2017, 2021), and a Coca-Cola 600 victory in 2022. However, the iconic 2.5-mile oval of Indianapolis has proven to be a stubborn hurdle for the driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.
This weekend marks Hamlin’s 18th career start in the Brickyard 400. While his statistical record at the historic track is respectable, featuring one pole position, six top-five finishes, and nine top-ten results, he has never managed to secure a win. In his previous 17 starts, Hamlin has led a total of 153 laps, a testament to his competitive presence, but victory has remained just out of reach. Reflecting on his pursuit of the Brickyard 400 in the past, Hamlin has articulated the significance of adding this particular jewel to his collection. "Yeah, it’s tough to say what it would mean until it actually happens," he stated. "Adding another crown jewel would be big, and then to have had them all swept to where we’ve done it all. I mean certainly the names are very prestigious on that list and so, it would certainly mean a lot to me. It would just be another you know feather in the cap. I don’t know what else it would bring to me other than that just little prestige, but certainly, we’ve come close … highly motivated, just need things to go our way once."
Despite his motivation, circumstances have repeatedly conspired against Hamlin at Indianapolis. A review of his near misses highlights the persistent challenges he has faced on this hallowed ground.
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2023: A Near Miss and a Managerial Triumph
Last year’s Brickyard 400 presented one of Hamlin’s most agonizing near-misses. He was on a blistering pace during qualifying, seemingly poised to capture the pole position. However, a significant incident exiting Turn 2 sent him into the wall, forcing him to start from the rear of the field in a backup car. Despite the significant disadvantage of having to navigate through the field, Hamlin demonstrated remarkable skill and resilience, climbing through the pack to finish an impressive third. While he didn’t achieve the driver’s victory, Hamlin did experience the thrill of "kissing the bricks" as an owner, with his 23XI Racing driver, Bubba Wallace, capturing the win. This owner’s victory offered a bittersweet taste of success at Indianapolis for Hamlin.
2020: Heartbreak from the Lead
The 2020 edition of the Brickyard 400 was particularly devastating for Hamlin. He had controlled much of the race and appeared to be on his way to a maiden victory, with no significant challenges on his horizon. Kevin Harvick, his closest competitor, trailed by a considerable margin. However, with only seven laps remaining, a catastrophic right-front tire failure in Turn 1 sent Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota hard into the wall, extinguishing his hopes of victory in a dramatic and fiery end to his race.
2018: A Final Lap Showdown
In 2018, Hamlin led 37 laps and was in contention for the win, holding the lead heading into the final restart. He executed a strong restart, but was unable to create separation from his pursuer. On the penultimate lap, Brad Keselowski made a decisive move, diving to the inside of Hamlin exiting Turn 2 and successfully completing the pass through Turn 4 just before the white flag waved, leaving Hamlin to finish second.
2014: A Late Charge Falls Short
During the 2014 Brickyard 400, Hamlin mounted a significant charge in the latter stages of the race. On the final restart with 17 laps remaining, he advanced from sixth to third place. On the backstretch, he attempted an aggressive three-wide maneuver past Kasey Kahne and Matt Kenseth. While this move propelled him forward, he was ultimately unable to reel in the leaders. Jeff Gordon went on to secure his record fifth Brickyard 400 victory, leaving Hamlin once again in pursuit.
2012: Pole Position and a Strong Run
Hamlin’s only pole position at the Brickyard 400 came in 2012. He led the early laps of the race, holding the point position until the initial round of pit stops. Although he relinquished the lead during the pit stop cycle and did not lead again under green flag conditions, Hamlin remained a strong contender throughout the day, ultimately finishing sixth. However, the Hendrick Motorsports contingent proved too dominant that day, with three of their drivers securing top-five finishes.
As the NASCAR Cup Series returns to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Denny Hamlin faces another opportunity to etch his name in the history books of this iconic event. The quest for the Brickyard 400, the missing jewel in his illustrious career, continues, with the veteran driver aiming to finally conquer the historic oval and complete the "Grand Slam" that has eluded him thus far. The outcome of this weekend’s race will undoubtedly be keenly watched by fans and competitors alike, as Hamlin seeks to add another chapter to his already legendary NASCAR story.
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