Skip to main content
Join Now
NASCAR Logo

Bubba Wallace calls out team owner Denny Hamlin after wild Kansas finish: 'He's a dumbass for that move'

Brian Jones Profile Picby: Brian Jones09/28/25brianjones_93
Bubba Wallace (25)
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Bubba Wallace called out 23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin after battling him for the win at Kansas on Sunday. After the race, Wallace reacted to finishing fifth in the race after having the lead in overtime.

“To even have a shot at the win with the way we started,” Bubba Wallace told NBC Sports. I told Post, you could have fooled me. We were not good. We missed it on the fire-off speed. I just really appreciate the team. Two years ago, I’d probably say something dumb. He’s a dumbass for that move. I don’t care if he’s my boss or not. But we’re going for the win.

“I hate that we gave it to Chevrolet there. Toyotas were superfast and proud to be driving one. I thought it was meant to be, and then it wasn’t. All in all, the positives, though, we were minus 26 coming in — or minus 27 coming in. We’re minus 26 leaving. We gained a point.”

Bubba Wallace just missed out on winning at Kansas

Wallace was leading as he approached the white flag in the first overtime, but a four-car crash in Turn 3 on lap 267 led to a caution that slowed the field. In the second overtime, Wallace had the lead, but Hamlin passed him on the final lap. But it was Chase Elliott who came away with the victory, while Hamlin finished second. Wallace earned a P5 finish and has worked to do next week to avoid playoff elimination.

After the race, Hamlin explained what happened in the second overtime. “Just super disappointing. I wanted it bad,” Denny Hamlin said. ” It would have been 60 for me. The team just did an amazing job with the car, just really, really fast. Gave me everything I needed. Got the restart I needed. Just couldn’t finish it there on the last corner. Obviously got really, really tight with the 23 (Wallace), and it just got real tight and we let the 9 (Elliott) win.”

As Wallace mentioned, he is 26 points below the playoff cut line heading into the final Round of 12 race at the Charlotte Roval. He will need to essentially win next week to advance to the Round of 8.