Denny Hamlin in disbelief over Bubba Wallace turnaround in recent years: 'Something changed over there'

Denny Hamlin is proud of the progress Bubba Wallace has made in his five seasons driving the No. 23 Toyota for 23XI Racing. Across the board, 2025 has been a career year for Wallace.

He made the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs for the second time in his career after winning the Brickyard 400 in July. The addition of crew chief Charles Denike has made a major impact, as Wallace has led a career-high 368 laps. Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI, said that simply put, the 23 car has been “the fastest freakin’ car we’ve got.”

“Bubba’s turnaround over the last few years has just been — I can’t believe it, truthfully,” Hamlin said on Monday’s Actions Detrimental podcast. “The maturity he has shown — he’s been the lead car at 23XI really the entire year. I think the 45 [Tyler Reddick] might have him on average finish because he doesn’t have as many DNFs, but the 23 has been the fastest freakin’ car we’ve got, and that’s something that just, I can’t believe it.

“Whether it’s Charles Denike and his setups or Bubba’s mentality, something changed over there that has made Bubba someone you’re going to have to contend with every single week. And you’re gonna have to contend with him this weekend, by the way. If you haven’t seen his road-course skills, they’ve dramatically improved. I couldn’t be more proud of that 23 team and what they’re doing week in, week out.”

Bubba Wallace earns high praise from Denny Hamlin

So much has gone right for Wallace this season. That wasn’t the case in Sunday’s Round of 12 race at Kansas Speedway, and it had to do with Hamlin. Racing Wallace for the win on the final lap of overtime, Hamlin washed up the track in Turn 3, making contact with Wallace who brushed the wall. It lost the race for both of them as Chase Elliott drove by on the bottom to take the checkered flag.

Wallace was frustrated with Hamlin after the race, flipping him the middle finger and later calling him out. Wallace badly needed a win at Kansas after a disappointing performance the week prior at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He came into the race minus-27 below the playoff cutline and even after finishing fifth at Kansas, he only made up a single point.

Wallace now faces a near must-win situation this Sunday at the Charlotte ROVAL. Wallace has never won on a road course, though his performances have been on an upward trend of late.