Denny Hamlin Reveals the Exact Moment that Cost Him Historical Brickyard 400 Win Corey Heim  

Coing into last Sunday’s race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin has one goal; secure his maiden Brickyard 400 win and finish the crown jewel sweep. But for the second straight year, he was only lucky enough to get to the victory lane as winning team owner, as 23XI Racing part-time driver Corey Heim won just like Bubba Wallace did in 2025.

On the latest episode of the Actions Detrimental podcast, the No:11 Toyota driver explained that moment that cost him the win. He admitted that they fumbled the ball on the last restart, as he failed to get the lead on young Heim despite having teammates Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe behind him to give a solid push.

It’s really more on us and the 20 and the 19 of just not orchestrating good pushes there. We came detached at the wrong time. I thought the 20 obviously was on board with getting us the push. It was way too early before the restart zone. I can’t go till we get to the restart zone. [Bell] said that Briscoe was on him way, way early or laying back, one of the two.

Denny Hamlin said on his podcast.

Further talking about the point, the TRD driver Denny Hamlin admitted that poor execution from him and his teammates cost on the restarts him. In the second last restart he took the lead from Corey Heim with the help of his teammate, but failed to do it a second time, when it mattered the most as Indy is a track that is really tough to pull off an overtake.

Yeah, that’s how you lose ’em. These restarts, when everyone kind of knows when you’re going to go, it’s about the pushes. That’s essentially where I got the lead from the 67 the restart before. Just came back the other way around.

Denny Hamlin added via Actions Detrimental.

Later in the same conversation, he admitted that there was nothing different they could have done in the moment that would’ve earned him a better result, and it was just a mistake coming to bite them when it mattered the most. The veteran also highlighted how Joey Logano pulled off a solid move to get behind Heim to give him a fight for race win instead of them.

It’s earned on their side, and it’s on us as a team on the other side. I don’t know. I’m sure maybe I could have done something different on the restart with the timing of it. Man, just getting a shove so early just didn’t allow me to get my car straight before taking off. Logano really timed the bump to the 67. I don’t know what we do different. We’re part of circumstances where the inside line didn’t get organized.

Denny Hamlin said.

Denny Hamlin shares how the JGR driver – 23XI owner dynamic works

The JGR veteran also talked about the dynamic of being the 23XI Racing co-owner and JGR driver. He admitted that Michael Jordan’s driver deserved to win the race, as they had the better cars the whole day and it was well deserved victory.

Really proud of 23XI overall. That part-time effort that Bootie and Corey are putting together, most times they’re on the racetrack, they’re our fastest car. They’re doing a heck of a job. Definitely a well-deserved victory.

Denny Hamlin added.

At the moment, JGR has a little more catching up to do, as 23XI has yet again become the bets Toyota team on the garage over them. It would be interesting to see how the reminder of the season would playout for the two teams and if his own drivers would ruin his championship dreams.

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