Former NASCAR champion Kevin Harvick strongly criticized Denny Hamlin regarding the Kevin Harvick NASCAR unwritten rule after Hamlin’s controversial actions at Kansas Speedway led to unexpected results during the 2025 Hollywood Casino 400. Harvick’s comments highlight the emotional weight and tension felt in the paddock, as decisions made in the closing laps changed the outcome for key competitors.
Hamlin’s Late-Race Trouble Hands Win to Elliott
Denny Hamlin, a three-time Daytona 500 winner, entered the final stages of the Kansas Speedway race in a strong position, despite battling a power steering failure that surfaced with about 50 laps remaining. Hamlin led 159 of 273 laps—more than any other driver—only to finish second after a dramatic clash with Bubba Wallace. The contact happened as Wallace, behind the wheel of the 23XI Racing Toyota, took the lead and attempted to fend off Hamlin, who is also his team co-owner alongside Michael Jordan. Meanwhile, Chase Elliott benefited from their misfortune, clinching his second win of the 2025 season by just 0.069 seconds.
The incident not only took the win away from both Toyota drivers but allowed Elliott, representing a rival manufacturer, to celebrate an unexpected victory. The result carried significant implications, dropping Bubba Wallace to 10th in the season standings and putting his playoff hopes on shaky ground, 26 points outside of the cutoff.
Harvick Calls Out Violation of NASCAR’s Code
Speaking on NASCAR on FOX’s Happy Hour podcast, Kevin Harvick did not mince words about what he saw as Hamlin’s crucial mistake.
The only rule that he broke is one of you better win. Now both teams are out of contention, and they handed a gimme to Chase Elliott when they had everything under control,
Harvick explained to hosts Kaitlyn Vincie and Mamba Smith.
Harvick, celebrated for amassing 60 Cup Series victories, emphasized that this principle holds a near-sacred place in the sport.
If you’re going to bang doors with your teammate and you’re going to do all those things, you better make sure one of you wins the race,
Harvick added. In NASCAR’s eyes, the relationship between Hamlin and Wallace—though not technical teammates but connected through team ownership—should have led to a Toyota win under such circumstances, instead of an outsider capitalizing on their missteps.
Personal History Drives Harvick’s Perspective
Drawing on his own career, Harvick recounted a similar scenario from 2007 in Montreal, where he crashed two of his own cars yet still claimed victory. The reaction from his team owner underlined the same unwritten demand: internal competition is tolerated, but only if it results in a win for the team as a whole.
I get to Victory Lane and I’m like, ‘Hey, there’s DeLana and Josh sitting over there and yep, they’re still sitting over there. I wonder why.’ I’m like, ‘Come on.’ And they’re like happy. And she’s like, ‘Flip me the bird,’
Harvick remembered. Despite cold shoulders from his crew on the flight home, Harvick maintained that winning justified his actions and fulfilled his responsibility as a driver.
Hamlin Stands By His Priorities
Following the fallout, Denny Hamlin offered his own defense. On his personal podcast, Hamlin insisted that while Sundays see him take his seat in the No. 11 car, his loyalty lies first with the team he’s driving for in that moment, not with his co-owned No. 23 car. This distinction highlights the complexity that comes with balancing the roles of driver, owner, and competitor in the high-stakes environment of NASCAR.
The aftermath of the Kansas Speedway event underscores the profound impact of unwritten codes and expectations within the sport. With both Toyota teams missing out and the playoff picture now less certain for Bubba Wallace, Kevin Harvick NASCAR unwritten rule remains a point of deep contention among fans, drivers, and teams heading into the critical final stretch of the Cup Series season.
