Another Brickyard 400 heartbreak: Denny Hamlin loses lead on final restart, settles for fifth

INDIANAPOLIS — Denny Hamlin had done everything he needed to put himself in position.

He survived late-race restarts, reclaimed the lead when it mattered and, for a brief moment, could envision finally adding the one crown jewel victory that has eluded him throughout his NASCAR Cup Series career: The Brickyard 400.

Then, another restart changed everything.

Corey Heim powered around Hamlin on the outside after the final restart Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway , leaving Hamlin to settle for fifth as the Brickyard 400 once again slipped through his fingers.

"It's just lack of execution," Hamlin said. "I thought we did a really good job of getting ourselves in contention there and executed a great restart. But then roles reversed. The outside line got that good push again and was able to clear us."

For most drivers, a career that includes 64 Cup Series victories, three Daytona 500 wins, three Southern 500 victories and a Coca-Cola 600 triumph would leave little left to accomplish.

But Hamlin's resume still has two glaring omissions: a Cup Series championship and a Brickyard 400 victory.

The Indianapolis crown jewel is the only one missing from a career Grand Slam.

Now in his 21st full-time Cup season, the Virginia native is 0 for 18 at the Brickyard despite consistently putting himself in contention. Before Sunday, his best finishes at Indianapolis was third in 2008, 2014 and 2018.

Sunday appeared to offer another opportunity.

Hamlin took the lead on a late restart and controlled the race before Heim received a strong push from Joey Logano on the outside entering Turn 1, allowing the 24-year-old to clear Hamlin and seize control of the race.

"I think we were fortunate to get the lead on that jump, so you're starting thinking about, 'It's possible,'" Hamlin said. "But I know that it comes down to these pushes, and especially when everyone knows where the leader is gonna go. The 22 obviously did a great job of pushing the 67.

"We just could not keep him from clearing, and he had control."

While Hamlin missed out on the victory as a driver, he still celebrated in Victory Lane as a team owner. Heim's victory marked the second consecutive Brickyard 400 win for 23XI Racing after Bubba Wallace captured the race a year ago.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Another Brickyard 400 heartbreak: Denny Hamlin loses lead on final restart, settles for fifth

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