Denny Hamlin disappointed after Kansas, explains contact with Bubba Wallace on last lap
Denny Hamlin called it “disappointing” to finish second in Sunday’s Round of 12 race at Kansas Speedway after he led a race-high 159 laps. Hamlin lost his power steering during the final run and an issue on pit road on the final pit stop lost him the lead.
To his credit, he was right there on the final lap competing for the win against his 23XI Racing driver in Bubba Wallace. Hamlin had the momentum down the backstretch, getting even with Wallace as they went into Turn 3. He slid Wallace up the racetrack and into the wall, which opened the door for Chase Elliott, who was charging hard on the inside. Elliott didn’t lift, dooring Hamlin as they exited Turn 4 to take the lead and the checkered flag.
Hamlin wanted this one bad. Unfortunately, the contact with Wallace took both of them out of it.
“Just super disappointing, obviously. I wanted it bad,” Hamlin told NBC Sports. “It would have been 60 for me and you know, the team just did an amazing job on the car. 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 I got really tight, and we let the 9 [Elliott] win.”
Bubba Wallace calls out team owner Denny Hamlin after wild Kansas finish
Hamlin was looking to win his 60th race in NASCAR Cup Series competition. It would have tied him with Kevin Harvick for 10th on the all-time wins list.
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Kansas is a place that has gotten away from Hamlin in the past. It did again on Sunday.
“Just mechanical failures and different things that have really hindered us in years’ past,” Hamlin said. “We had no power steering that last run, low voltage, just a lot of things. Just disappointing because I don’t think I’ve ever had a car that good to the competition. I wanted it for my dad; I wanted it for everybody. Wanted it a little too hard.”
It was painful for Hamlin, yes, but it was especially painful for Wallace, -27 below the cutline entering the race. He finished fifth, but he only made up a single point in the playoff standings. Wallace called out his team owner, Hamlin, after the race.
“To even have a shot at the win with the way we started… we were not good,” Wallace said. “I really appreciate the team. Two years ago, I would say something dumb, [Hamlin] is a dumbass for that move, for sure. I don’t care if he’s my boss or not. But we were going for the win.”