Denny Hamlin loses lead on final restart at Brickyard 400
Motorsport.com • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 26, 2026, 10:52 PM
Last updated Jul 26, 2026
Denny Hamlin was in position to win the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26 but lost the lead during a late restart. Hamlin had reclaimed the lead and appeared poised for victory when Corey Heim passed him with a strong outside push, ultimately leaving Hamlin to finish fifth. Despite his success elsewhere, Hamlin's difficulty at the Brickyard continues, marking his 18th attempt without a victory. Heim's win is the second consecutive Brickyard 400 victory for 23XI Racing.
- •Hamlin led the race before losing the lead on a late restart.
- •Corey Heim won the race, marking his first Brickyard 400 victory.
- •23XI Racing celebrates back-to-back wins at the Brickyard.
- •Hamlin remains 0 for 18 at the Brickyard.
- •Previous best finish for Hamlin at this event was third.
- 2:40 PMMotorsport.com — Denny Hamlin points to team moment that lost him the Brickyard 400
- 2:40 PMYahoo Sports — Denny Hamlin points to team moment that lost him the Brickyard 400
- 10:52 PMYahoo Sports — Another Brickyard 400 heartbreak: Denny Hamlin loses lead on final restart, settles for fifth
"With 34 laps to go, the green flag waved for what would be the final restart of the 2026 Brickyard 400. Denny Hamlin, making his 18th start in the race, held the lead with Corey Heim to his outside. The part-time 23XI Racing driver surged ahead of Hamlin, clearing him into Turn 1, but Hamlin got back underneath him by diving super low in the short chute approaching Turn 2. Heim put Hamlin ...Keep reading
"Denny Hamlin's first Brickyard 400 victory was within reach before a late restart spoiled his bid for NASCAR's missing crown jewel
"Hamlin was leading on the final restart of Sunday's NASCAR Cup race at Indianapolis, but finished fifth in the crown jewel event
Sources
External links- Motorsport.comJul 27, 2026, 2:40 PMDenny Hamlin points to team moment that lost him the Brickyard 400
With 34 laps to go, the green flag waved for what would be the final restart of the 2026 Brickyard 400. Denny Hamlin, making his 18th start in the race, held the lead with Corey Heim to his outside. The part-time 23XI Racing driver surged ahead of Hamlin, clearing him into Turn 1, but Hamlin got back underneath him by diving super low in the short chute approaching Turn 2. Heim put Hamlin ...Keep reading
- Yahoo SportsJul 27, 2026, 2:40 PMDenny Hamlin points to team moment that lost him the Brickyard 400
Hamlin was leading on the final restart of Sunday's NASCAR Cup race at Indianapolis, but finished fifth in the crown jewel event
- Yahoo SportsJul 26, 2026, 10:52 PMAnother Brickyard 400 heartbreak: Denny Hamlin loses lead on final restart, settles for fifth
Denny Hamlin's first Brickyard 400 victory was within reach before a late restart spoiled his bid for NASCAR's missing crown jewel
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