Hamlin crashes in qualifying, backup car, starts rear

NASCAR Cup Series · story · 2026-07-26

Denny Hamlin (No. 11, Joe Gibbs Racing) crashed during qualifying for the 2026 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 25, 2026, brushing the outside wall in Turn 2 before spinning and hitting the inside wall heavily. The No. 11 Toyota sustained major front-end damage, forcing the team to switch to a backup car. Per NASCAR rules, using a backup car requires the driver to start from the rear of the field. Hamlin is the 2026 Cup Series points leader and has won four races this season.

Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/article/denny-hamlin-crashes-nascar-indianapolis-193739700.html