Denny Hamlin offers monetary reward to locate his long-lost trophy Milwaukee Mile Busch Series race win trophy

Denny Hamlin and Aric Almirola both raced the same car for the win at Milwaukee,

Denny Hamlin offers monetary reward to locate his long-lost trophy Milwaukee Mile Busch Series race win trophy

Denny Hamlin (Credits: Imago)

JGR Driver Denny Hamlin has embarked on an intriguing quest to recover a long-lost trophy from the 2007 AT&T 250 race held at the historic Milwaukee Mile racetrack. This tale is a captivating blend of racing drama, missed opportunities, and the mysterious disappearance of a cherished piece of silverware.

Denny Hamlin, on the “Actions Detrimental” podcast, offered a $500 reward to find the missing trophy from 2007. Hamlin was in his second full-time season with Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series and also raced heavily in the Busch Series. At the same time, Aric Almirola, a Gibbs development driver, participated in almost half of the Busch Series events.

Taking a stroll down memory lane, he pointed out that, during that era, racing double duty on separate tracks over a weekend was common. Hamlin, after Cup qualifying, got to the track via a helicopter, but due to the absence of a landing post, he got into the event when 15 laps were completed. Almirola was driving the car, and he was in the lead. But the team wanted Hamlin in the car, and as soon as Almirola lost his lead, he was swapped. He went on to win the race while Almirola left the track due to the frustrating decision.

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Hamlin never got the trophy on his hands after the celebration, and Almirola didn’t have them either. The trophy went missing that day,, and no one knows where it is. The JGr veteran loves to have it back and has offered $500 in rewards for the finder. 

 I don't need the trophy, no. Do I want it? Eh, I wouldn't mind having one, but it's like, I get it. So he didn’t get the trophy. I … I don’t know where that trophy is.If you are the owner of that trophy, I’ll pay you a 500-dollar finder’s fee to return it.” 

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What happened at the 2007 AT&T 250 NASCAR Busch Series race?

The 2007 Busch Series AT&T 250 at the Milwaukee Mile was a race filled with twists and turns, both on and off the track. Aric had secured the pole position but was poised to hand over the wheel to Hamlin, a decision based on Hamlin’s prior success at Milwaukee.

Aric Almirola's pitstop swap at the 2007 AT&T 250 race
Aric Almirola’s pitstop swap at the 2007 AT&T 250 race (Credits: X.com)

As the race commenced, Almirola led the charge, guiding his car through the challenging Milwaukee Mile circuit. Meanwhile, Hamlin encountered logistical hurdles, with his helicopter struggling to locate a suitable landing spot, setting the stage for the unfolding drama. For 43 laps, Almirola maintained his lead, all the while with the specter of Hamlin’s takeover looming. When the time came, Hamlin displayed his racing prowess, battling back from starting a lap down due to the mid-race driver swap.

In a race marked by frequent lead changes and heart-pounding duels, Hamlin ultimately claimed victory, crossing the finish line and celebrating in Victory Lane with an etched crystal vase trophy. However, a mysterious cloud hung over the trophy’s fate. NASCAR rules dictated that the win be credited to Aric Almirola, the starting driver, leaving the destiny of the trophy shrouded in uncertainty. 

Hamlin’s quest to recover this emblematic silverware is not merely a pursuit of material value but a desire to preserve a remarkable racing story. His offer of a $500 reward invites fans and enthusiasts to become part of this narrative. It’s an opportunity to revive the past, to resurrect a piece of racing history that holds sentimental value.

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