Tensions ran high at Kansas Speedway during the NASCAR Playoffs as Bubba Wallace’s spotter, Freddie Kraft, issued a clear warning to Denny Hamlin after a contentious late-race incident. The Bubba Wallace Kansas Playoffs campaign now faces increased pressure with key moments off the track potentially shaping the road ahead.
Hamlin, who was aggressive in his late-race challenge on Wallace during the Round of 12 race, may have set the stage for ongoing friction, as detailed by Kraft following the event. The final laps in Kansas saw both racers lose their shot at the win when Hamlin’s maneuver resulted in contact, allowing Chase Elliott to slip through for victory.
Clash Between Hamlin and Wallace Raises Stakes
Freddie Kraft, speaking on the Door Bumper Clear podcast, commented after the dramatic on-track showdown.
“The thing is moving forward, I think the two biggest takeaways are for a guy that was upset last week that the 54 didn’t let him go, I know my driver and I know my driver… in the next few weeks, my guy can be one of the most aggravating guys on the racetrack to pass when he wants to be,”
Kraft said, emphasizing his confidence in Wallace’s resolve. He added another pointed observation following Hamlin’s actions in Kansas.
“For a guy that was just complaining about somebody not letting him go last week, he might be upset with us in the near future if that plays out.”
These remarks underline the tensions simmering between the two drivers, suggesting a possible on-track payback before the playoffs conclude.
On the decisive final lap, Hamlin moved up the track in Turn 3, colliding with Wallace who scraped along the wall. Both drivers’ hopes for a Kansas victory evaporated, as Elliott surged ahead and crossed the finish line first. Wallace’s frustration was obvious: after the race he signaled his disappointment, both with a middle-finger gesture at Hamlin and a direct public call-out.
Wallace’s urgency was understandable, given his need for a pivotal win following a difficult showing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Despite finishing inside the top five at Kansas, he remains distant from the cutline, making up just one point on the playoff leaderboard. With the stakes so high, every inter-driver conflict could have outsized implications.
Charlotte ROVAL Win Now Critical for Wallace’s Playoff Bid
Bubba Wallace must now aim for nothing less than first place as the NASCAR Cup Series heads to the Charlotte ROVAL, a type of circuit where he has yet to post a victory. Recent improvements on road courses may give him a glimmer of hope, but his playoff fate is hanging by a thread.
The playoff landscape gets even tougher as reigning champion Joey Logano poses a significant hurdle on the way to Phoenix Raceway. Kraft pointed out that Hamlin’s decision to race Wallace so hard at Kansas could have major fallout for the championship race.
“The biggest thing for me is you talk about watching the cutline move, a week after [Chris] Gabehart says the Penske cars are unbeatable at Phoenix, if we win the race, the 22 is out of the playoffs right now. Obviously, Denny doesn’t know that, but that could come back to bite him,”
Kraft said, highlighting how Kansas decisions can impact the fate of top contenders like Logano and Hamlin.
If Logano secures a place in the Championship 4 after advancing this round, he will be extremely difficult to overcome at Phoenix, a prospect Kraft described in no uncertain terms.
“If the 22 advances through this round and finds his way to Phoenix, he’s gonna be really f*cking hard to beat there.”
Kraft also reflected on the intensity and inevitability of the competitive dynamic between Wallace and Hamlin, making clear that on-track disagreements are part of the sport’s fabric.
“It’s racing, it’s what I’ve done my whole life. I know everybody’s expecting me to come on here and say Denny is an [expletive], but it is what it is.”
As the playoff field narrows, key figures like Wallace, Hamlin, Logano, Chris Gabehart, and Chase Elliott remain at the center of championship drama, with performances at tracks like New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Kansas Speedway, and the upcoming Phoenix Raceway all playing crucial roles. With every race, drivers adjust not only to the competition but also to the rising psychological and tactical pressures that define the NASCAR Cup Series postseason.
The Kansas dust-up may just be a preview of further fireworks as teams chase the ultimate prize. For Wallace, his path through the playoffs now depends on overcoming both fierce competitors and the mounting intensity of each moment on NASCAR’s biggest stage.
