During the closing laps of the NASCAR Playoffs at Kansas Speedway, the Denny Hamlin Kansas clash played a pivotal role in determining the race outcome and playoff standings. As teammates and bosses intermingled on the track, frustrations boiled over after Hamlin, managing car trouble, forced his way beneath Bubba Wallace’s No. 23 Toyota, sending Wallace into the wall and opening the door for Chase Elliott to win.
Turning Point: Last-Lap Contact Costs Wallace a Victory
The critical moment unfolded on the final restart. Denny Hamlin, despite struggling with no power steering, pushed his car under Wallace’s vehicle along the backstretch, causing Wallace to brush the wall. Both drivers lost momentum as a result, and Chase Elliott capitalized by overtaking both for the win in his No. 9 Hendrick Chevrolet. Elliott’s win guaranteed him a place in the Round of 8, while Wallace finished fifth and dropped to tenth in the playoff standings, leaving him 26 points below the Round of 12 cutoff.
Emotional Responses Mark Aftermath of Kansas Race
After the race, Bubba Wallace did not hide his frustration with the outcome or with Hamlin’s racing approach. Wallace commented,
It’s unfortunate. I was excited to race Denny for the win, and we ended up fifth and gave the nine a win. So that’s what’s frustrating the most. We couldn’t get Toyota to victory lane. We’ve been working really hard to get our program back here at Kansas. We still got a lot of work to do. Played all of our cards right,
— Bubba Wallace, Driver.
Asked if he had discussed the incident with Hamlin, Wallace’s response was curt:
Can’t talk to him.
— Bubba Wallace, Driver.
He went on to explain his racing philosophy:
I’ve always been big on how you race me is our issue. No matter who you are, what you’re doing, 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 you cross and you have to understand that.
— Bubba Wallace, Driver.
Wallace reiterated,
Can’t talk to him. … I’ve always been big on how you race me is how I race you
— Bubba Wallace, Driver.
Fans Question Wallace’s Consistency Following On-Track Clash
The incident sparked immediate debate among NASCAR fans, particularly on social media, with many scrutinizing Wallace’s own driving tactics during the race. One observer remarked,
He did the same thing to Bell 2-3 times before Hamlin did,
while another added,
Wanted to race the 11 for the win??? Well you did the same thing to the 20 the 11 did to you the lap before.
Further criticism emerged as another fan questioned Wallace’s memory of his actions:
Did he forget he did the thing to Bell like 3 times?? And I believe Bell drives a Toyota♂️.
and yet another pointedly wrote,
Should’ve asked him how he raced Bell.
The conversation highlighted the escalating emotions and the intense scrutiny faced by both Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin following the Kansas event.
Playoff Pressure Intensifies for Wallace Heading to the Roval
With just one race left before the next playoff cutoff, Bubba Wallace faces a must-win scenario at the Charlotte Roval to keep his championship aspirations alive. The driver has made it clear that he will carry the same determination into the next round, continuing to race assertively despite the controversy at Kansas. The Denny Hamlin Kansas clash has not only impacted standings but stoked debate about competitive boundaries and mutual respect on the track between Toyota drivers and their teams.
The impending Round of 12 finale now comes loaded with pressure for Wallace, who must overcome the deficit if he wants to advance, while Denny Hamlin and the rest of Joe Gibbs Racing assess strategy and relationships after a divisive outcome at Kansas.
“Can’t talk to him. … I’ve always been big on how you race me is how I race you”@BubbaWallace was a corner away from a win in Kansas before he had contact with his boss Denny Hamlin
His reaction 👇#NASCAR #HollywoodCasino400 pic.twitter.com/F29VSlVCAM
— Dalton Hopkins (@PitLaneCPT) September 28, 2025
