During a dramatic conclusion to the NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway on September 28, the Denny Hamlin Kansas Speedway incident resulted in lost victory chances for Bubba Wallace, setting off high tensions between driver and team owner. Both drivers were involved in a contentious on-track clash during the final lap, with Hamlin, who owns Wallace’s car, making contact that sent Wallace into the wall and dashed his hopes for a critical playoff win.
Wallace’s Frustration with Team Owner Spills Over Post-Race
After finishing fifth at Kansas Speedway, Bubba Wallace confronted the man who signs his checks—Denny Hamlin—by driving alongside him during the cooldown lap and making a frustrated gesture. Wallace’s reaction underlined the intensity of the moment, as emotions ran high following the outcome of the race.
“.@BubbaWallace shows his displeasure to team owner @dennyhamlin after the checkered flag. (via u/Equivalent_Dish_1990) https://t.co/kgFS8s8d4Y #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/5UEX5vDHsu”
— r/NASCAR on Reddit (@NASCARonReddit)
Last Lap Controversy Changes the Outcome
As the race neared its conclusion, Wallace and Hamlin were locked in a fierce battle for the win. Entering the penultimate turn, Hamlin drove aggressively underneath Wallace’s No. 23 car but lost control and drifted up the track, leading to a collision that forced Wallace into the wall. The contact eliminated both from contention for the win in one of Kansas Speedway’s longest-ever Cup Series events.
Chase Elliott Capitalizes on the Collision
The collision opened the door for Chase Elliott of Hendrick Motorsports, who quickly took advantage and surged to the front, claiming the win and punching his ticket to the Round of 8 in the playoffs. For Wallace, who entered the event below the cutline, the incident was a setback as he fell to a fifth-place finish, placing his playoff hopes in jeopardy.
“THIS FINAL LAP WAS INSANE 🤯 pic.twitter.com/g9ctVJ1TPx”
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC)
After the race, Wallace spoke candidly to MRN about his emotions, acknowledging that he has learned from past incidents.
“Two years ago, I’d probably say something dumb,”
Wallace told MRN post-race.
“He’s a dumbass for that move, for sure. I don’t care if he’s my boss or not.”
— Bubba Wallace, Driver
Hamlin and Wallace React to Kansas Speedway Showdown
Denny Hamlin, who was visibly frustrated after losing power steering roughly 50 laps prior to the finish, expressed his disappointment in post-race comments. Just massive disappointment, Hamlin said after climbing out of the car.
“I just don’t even know how else you say it. Just massive disappointment. I’m thinking all race is, ‘this is just our race.’”
— Denny Hamlin, Team Owner/Driver
Hamlin led 159 laps—more than any other driver—sweeping the opening two stages and demonstrating dominance throughout the event. The milestone 60th career win had been within reach for Hamlin, who started his Cup Series career at Kansas and hoped to mark the achievement at the same venue.
“I’d love to get my 60th here at the track where I got my very first start,”
Hamlin said.
“That was on my mind was 60. That was it, and in a race that we dominated, it was the best car. Had good stops. I’m thinking ‘Find a way to get 60.’”
— Denny Hamlin, Team Owner/Driver
Wallace, meanwhile, endured a difficult start, dropping from his seventh-place grid position to 19th during the opening stint. Despite these challenges, adjustments by crew chief Charles Denike helped the No. 23 car move into the top ten by stage two, where Wallace recovered to finish sixth. The perseverance showed in the team’s ability to collaborate as the race unfolded, as Wallace described after the event.
“Every stint that went by my smile got bigger,”
Wallace recalled.
“We were getting back up to the front, and it was nice to see everybody sticking together. Intensity ramps up, the emotions ramp up and I’m vocal like, ‘We need to fix our car immediately,’ and they kept their heads down, gave me the appropriate adjustments, and we made it work, and we had a shot for the win.”
— Bubba Wallace, Driver
Losing Momentum in the Final Laps
A debris caution bunched up the field in the last 15 laps, with Hamlin leading but struggling due to a power steering issue and visible fatigue. A slow pit stop compounded Hamlin’s problems, causing him to drop back into the field. Wallace advanced into the top five, with Christopher Bell temporarily assuming the lead for Toyota during the restart.
“A slow stop for the No. 11 on pit road! @CBellRacing takes advantage, and the No. 20 will lead us back to green! #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/f2agz92lig”
— NASCAR (@NASCAR)
Overtime Drama and Decisive Contact
With overtime restarts reshuffling the front of the grid, Wallace surged to the lead by clearing Bell as the race approached the final lap. However, Hamlin, battling exhaustion and steering issues, made a daring move underneath Wallace’s car out of turn 2, and carried excessive speed into turn 3. Unable to control his car properly, Hamlin slid up into Wallace, and both cars hit the outside wall, ending their hopes for victory.
Reflecting on the contact, Hamlin explained the difficulties he faced:
“If I had to do it all over again, I think I’d run a little bit lower to allow a space between us so I don’t get so tight and then try to turn the wheel,”
Hamlin stated.
“At the end I got no power steering. I’m trying everything I can, and obviously, really difficult and just super disappointed that I couldn’t finish this one out.”
— Denny Hamlin, Team Owner/Driver
Playoff Implications for Both Drivers
The finish left Hamlin 48 points above the playoff cutline, delaying his quest for a long-awaited 60th Cup Series victory. Wallace, however, faces a more precarious situation, as he now sits 10th in the standings, trailing the transfer line by 26 points with the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL looming as the next playoff venue.
Wallace commented further on the challenges of racing against Hamlin, highlighting the complexity of teammate and competitor relationships: “You can’t talk to him,” Wallace said of Hamlin.
“I mean, I’ve always been big on ‘You race me how you race me is how I race you no matter who you are, what it is, we race hard. We race hard every week.”
“Toyota drivers race really hard every week, but we respect each other, and there’s a fine line that sometimes gets crossed and you have to understand that.”
— Bubba Wallace, Driver
Kansas Speedway Drama Sets Stage for Charlotte
The Denny Hamlin Kansas Speedway incident not only cost Bubba Wallace a potential win but also intensified the playoff battle with major implications for both 23XI Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing, the respective teams. The incident, involving two of Toyota’s most prominent drivers, showcased the fine line between teammates and competitors, with emotions still raw as the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Charlotte for the final race in the current playoff round. Observers will be watching closely to see how Wallace responds to adversity and whether Hamlin can recover his momentum in pursuit of his historic 60th victory.
.@BubbaWallace shows his displeasure to team owner @dennyhamlin after the checkered flag. (via u/Equivalent_Dish_1990) https://t.co/kgFS8s8d4Y #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/5UEX5vDHsu
— r/NASCAR on Reddit (@NASCARonReddit) September 28, 2025
THIS FINAL LAP WAS INSANE 🤯 pic.twitter.com/g9ctVJ1TPx
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 28, 2025
A slow stop for the No. 11 on pit road! @CBellRacing takes advantage, and the No. 20 will lead us back to green! #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/f2agz92lig
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 28, 2025
