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The pantheon of NASCAR’s most prestigious races, often referred to as "crown jewels," comprises four iconic events: the Daytona 500, the Coca-Cola 600, the Southern 500, and the Brickyard 400. Since its inception in 1994, the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway has held a special allure, forming a coveted "Grand Slam" achievement that only a select few of the sport’s greatest drivers have managed to conquer. This elite fraternity, comprised entirely of champions and future Hall of Famers, includes Jeff Gordon, who first achieved the feat in 1997, followed by Dale Earnhardt in 1998, Jimmie Johnson in 2006, and Kevin Harvick in 2014. In the years since Harvick’s triumph, no other driver has managed to add their name to this illustrious list, with drivers like Kyle Larson and Brad Keselowski currently missing the Daytona 500 to complete their own sets, and Kyle Busch having narrowly missed the opportunity before his untimely passing.
Among the current crop of NASCAR Cup Series stars, Denny Hamlin stands as a prominent figure on the precipice of this monumental achievement. As the current championship leader and the winningest active driver in the Cup Series, Hamlin has accumulated an impressive resume, including four victories already this season. His remarkable career boasts three Daytona 500 triumphs (2016, 2019, 2020), three Southern 500 wins (2010, 2017, 2021), and a Coca-Cola 600 victory in 2022. However, the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway remains an elusive prize in the formidable collection of Denny Hamlin.
This weekend’s running of the Brickyard 400 will mark Hamlin’s 18th career start at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. While his statistics at the track are respectable, with a total of 153 laps led, one pole position, six top-five finishes, and nine top-ten finishes, true dominance has yet to materialize. Reflecting on his persistent quest for victory at the Brickyard, Hamlin stated last year, "Yeah, it’s tough to say what it would mean until it actually happens. 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." Unfortunately for Hamlin, the stars have not consistently aligned for him at IMS.
Several past performances highlight Hamlin’s near misses at the Brickyard:
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2023: A Blighted Pole Bid and a Resilient Recovery
The 2023 running of the Brickyard 400 presented one of Hamlin’s most agonizing "what-if" scenarios. During qualifying, Hamlin was on a blistering pace, poised to secure the pole position. However, his run was cut short by a significant incident at the exit of Turn 2, resulting in a substantial impact and forcing him to start the race from the rear of the field in a backup car. Despite the adversity, Hamlin demonstrated his characteristic skill by navigating through the field, ultimately finishing in a commendable third place. While he did not secure the driver’s victory, Hamlin experienced the elation of "kissing the bricks" as an owner, with his 23XI Racing driver, Bubba Wallace, capturing the win.
2020: Leading Laps, Then Catastrophe
In what was arguably one of his most painful defeats at Indianapolis, Hamlin held a commanding lead and appeared to have the race firmly in hand. With Kevin Harvick trailing significantly behind, the victory seemed within reach. However, with just seven laps remaining, a catastrophic right-front tire failure in Turn 1 sent Hamlin hard into the wall, abruptly ending his promising run and dashing his hopes of a Brickyard triumph.
2018: A Final Restart Showdown
Hamlin led 37 laps during the 2018 Brickyard 400 and found himself at the forefront on the final restart. He executed a strong restart, but was unable to create separation from his closest competitor. On the penultimate lap, Brad Keselowski executed a decisive pass exiting Turn 2 and cleared Hamlin through Turn 4 just before the white flag waved, ultimately denying Hamlin the victory.
2014: A Bold Charge Falls Short
During the 2014 event, Hamlin orchestrated a dramatic surge through the field on the final restart with 17 laps remaining, moving from sixth to third. On the backstretch, he bravely attempted an aggressive three-wide maneuver past Kasey Kahne and Matt Kenseth. While this move propelled him forward, he ultimately could not close the gap on the leaders. Jeff Gordon went on to secure his record fifth Brickyard 400 victory that day.
2012: A Promising Start Unfulfilled
The 2012 Brickyard 400 saw Hamlin achieve his sole pole position at the track. He led the early stages of the race, holding the top spot until the initial round of pit stops. Although he remained competitive and finished in sixth place, the Hendrick Motorsports contingent proved too strong, securing three of the top five positions on that day, preventing Hamlin from maintaining his early advantage.
As the NASCAR Cup Series returns to the hallowed grounds of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Denny Hamlin remains a formidable contender, driven by the singular ambition of conquering the Brickyard 400. The statistical tapestry of his career is rich with accolades, but the missing jewel in his crown continues to fuel his determination. The upcoming race presents another opportunity for Hamlin to etch his name into the annals of racing history, joining the exclusive club of drivers who have achieved NASCAR’s ultimate achievement at the Brickyard.
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