On the latest Actions Detrimental podcast, Denny Hamlin addressed the recent difficulties his co-owned NASCAR team, 23XI Racing, has faced in the ongoing playoffs, specifically highlighting the 23XI Racing playoff struggle. Following a strong performance in the Round of 16, both drivers, Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick, experienced setbacks in the Mobil 1 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, leaving them below the playoff cutoff as the competition intensified.
Bubba Wallace, after a previously dominant round, qualified 14th for the 301-lap event and failed to finish inside the top 20. Tyler Reddick, who started from the fourth position, also finished outside of the top 20. As a result, Wallace and Reddick found themselves 23 and 27 points, respectively, below the playoff cutoff—placing them at the lower end of the rankings as the postseason advanced.
Hamlin’s Perspective: Playoff Scenarios and Team Resilience
Despite the disappointing finishes at New Hampshire, Hamlin, who shares co-ownership of 23XI Racing, expressed confidence in his team’s position. He emphasized that while the point deficit is concerning, the situation does not yet require a desperate all-or-nothing approach. He described that the threshold for a true “must-win” scenario comes only when a driver is more than 30 points below the line entering the final race of a playoff round.
During his discussion on the podcast, Hamlin told his co-host:
“No must-win is you’re below 30 points out going into the last race; like, that’s must-win with two races to go. Just too much other stuff can happen. You can go out there, and you can have yourself a 50-point day at Kansas, and next thing you know, I bet you’re going to be minus five, or what’s maybe flat.”
Denny Hamlin, Co-owner and Driver
Both Wallace and Reddick have strong track records at Kansas Speedway, which is pivotal as the playoffs progress. Reddick took victory at the 1.500-mile track in 2023, and Wallace won the fall race at Kansas Speedway in 2022. These previous achievements highlight their potential for a turnaround as the next race approaches.
Recent Penalty at Bristol Adds to Hamlin’s Season Drama
Earlier this month, Denny Hamlin himself faced a setback unrelated to his co-ownership responsibilities. At Bristol Motor Speedway, during the 500-lap Bass Pro Shops Night Race, NASCAR issued him a penalty after contact with Kaulig Racing’s AJ Allmendinger led to a loose tire on his #11 Toyota Camry XSE. The incident resulted in a two-lap penalty for Hamlin, and NASCAR also handed down suspensions to two #11 crew members for two races.
Despite qualifying in sixth place with a lap just over 15 seconds and reaching speeds of 126.31 mph, Hamlin’s race took a turn after the lap 384 incident. He lost valuable ground but managed to recover somewhat before the penalty was enforced.
Speaking about the situation and how such issues are managed within a team environment, Hamlin explained:
“I have no idea who’s sitting on the bench or who’s ready, and it’s not even my concern…cuz that’s the crew chief. He manages the people. Um, there’s nothing I can do about it. You know what I mean? My concern needs to be on the things that I can control.”
Denny Hamlin, Driver
After these events, Hamlin slipped to fifth in the Cup Series points standings but remains a consistent contender with five wins, twelve top-five finishes, fifteen top-ten results, and three pole positions in twenty-nine starts so far this season.
Outlook for 23XI Racing and the Remaining Playoff Rounds
With the 23XI Racing playoff struggle still underway, Denny Hamlin’s experience as both co-owner and active competitor shapes the team’s strategy. He believes that as long as Wallace and Reddick remain within striking distance of the cutoff, multiple scenarios could play into their favor, particularly at tracks like Kansas Speedway where both have enjoyed recent success. The next races provide an opportunity for the team to recover lost ground and challenge for a place in the next playoff round.
As the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs continue, Hamlin and his team must rally together, focusing on controllable factors and leveraging their drivers’ track records. The pressure mounts, but experience and strategic thinking, especially in critical moments at tracks like short track Bristol and Kansas, could tip the scales in favor of 23XI Racing as the season progresses.
Not in must-win mode yet… but it’s getting close for 23XI. 😬 pic.twitter.com/ek8AN0ynd0
— Dirty Mo Media (@DirtyMoMedia) September 23, 2025
