Winning all four of the NASCAR Cup Series' top four races \u2013 the Daytona 500, Coca-Cola 600, Southern 500, and Brickyard 400 \u2013 earns a 'Grand Slam' title, a feat achieved by only a handful of drivers. This achievement, which began with the addition of Indianapolis to the calendar in 1994, includes Jeff Gordon (1997), Dale Earnhardt (1998), Jimmie Johnson (2006), and Kevin Harvick (2014). No drivers have been added to the list since 2014.<\/p>\n
Denny Hamlin, driving Joe Gibbs Racing's #11 Toyota, leads the 2026 championship standings and holds the record for most wins among active drivers in the Cup Series. With four victories this season, Hamlin's career includes three Daytona 500s (2016, 2019, 2020), three Southern 500s (2010, 2017, 2021), and one Coca-Cola 600 (2022). The Brickyard 400 remains his only unconquered stronghold. This week's race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be Hamlin's 18th Brickyard 400 start. Having led for 153 laps in total, securing one pole position, six top-five finishes, and nine top-ten finishes, Hamlin has never truly dominated at Indy.<\/p>\n
Hamlin said this about this aspiration last year: 'It's hard to say what it would mean until it happens. To add another crown jewel would be huge; to have won them all\u2026 The names on that list are very prestigious and it would definitely mean a lot to me. It's just a matter of prestige, but we're close\u2026 I'm highly motivated, it just takes one thing for things to go right.'\u2018<\/p>\n
2025:<\/strong> Hamlin looked like a pole contender with a fast blistering lap, but crashed at the exit of turn 2 and started the race from the back of the grid with a spare car. However, he cut the track and moved up to third place. He was able to experience the "kiss bricks" on the track as a team owner, thanks to his 23XI Racing driver Bubba Wallace winning the race.<\/p>\n 2020:<\/strong> Hamlin was leading with seven laps to go when his front right tire burst, and he crashed into the wall at Turn 1. At that moment, Kevin Harvick was about one-eighth of a second behind and struggling to close the gap; this was Hamlin's best chance for victory.<\/p>\n 2018:<\/strong> Hamlin, who was leading at the final restart, had been ahead for 37 laps. However, on the penultimate lap, Brad Keselowski pulled past him at the exit of Turn 2 and overtook him just before the white flag at Turn 4. Hamlin dropped to second place.<\/p>\n 2014:<\/strong> Hamlin, who moved up from sixth to third place with 17 laps to go before the final restart, made an aggressive three-car side-by-side move against Kasey Kahne and Matt Kenseth on the straight; however, he couldn't catch the leaders. Jeff Gordon took his record fifth victory in the Brickyard 400 that day.<\/p>\n 2012:<\/strong> Hamlin, who secured his only Brickyard 400 pole position, held the lead until his first pit stop, after which he was unable to regain the lead at the start of a lap. He finished sixth, with Hendrick Motorsports taking three of the top five spots.<\/p>\nSource<\/h2>\n