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Denny Hamlin reveals if there will be 'awkwardness' with Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing after Kansas situation

Brian Jones Profile Picby: Brian Jones09/29/25brianjones_93
Denny Hamlin Bubba Wallace
(Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Denny Hamlin understands how Bubba Wallace and his team are feeling after the two contacted each other at Kansas on Sunday. On the Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin was asked if there would be “awkwardness” with Wallace and 23XI Racing after the incident.

“I think that’s where feelings can get hurt is when you have expectations, and those expectations aren’t met,” Denny Hamlin said. “It’s why I lost my temper last weekend. I had an expectation. I thought we knew that if you’re in the playoffs vs. out, the rules are different. The actions didn’t meet my expectations, so then I got hot. And so I think sure, if you think that I owe you this or that, your feelings are probably hurt today.”

When it comes to last week, Hamlin was referring to Ty Gibbs racing him hard, which led to contact and Gibbs wrecking his car. Hamlin and Gibbs are Joe Gibbs Racing teammates.

Bubba Wallace calls out Denny Hamlin for contact at Kansas

On Sunday, Hamlin, a co-owner of 23XI Racing, contacted Bubba Wallace during the final lap of a restart in overtime. The two were battling for the lead, but the contact helped Chase Elliott steal the victory and clinch a spot in the NASCAR Playoffs Round of 8.

After the race, Wallace expressed his thoughts on the final lap. “To even have a shot at the win with the way we started, I told Post, You could have fooled me,” Wallace told NBC Sports. “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 super-fast, 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.”

Had Wallace won on Sunday, he would have made his way to the third round of the playoffs. He remains below the cut line and will basically have to win next Sunday at the Charlotte Roval to avoid elimination.