In a dramatic conclusion to the NASCAR playoff race at Kansas Speedway, Denny Hamlin’s last-lap decision to make a daring move on Bubba Wallace changed the outcome for both drivers, affecting the playoff standings and sparking debate. The Denny Hamlin Kansas race move, which occurred on Sunday, September 28, 2025, saw both 23XI Racing teammates fight for victory, ultimately allowing Chase Elliott to overtake them and claim the win for Hendrick Motorsports.
Hamlin’s Bold Move on Final Lap Shifts Playoff Dynamics
Bubba Wallace began the Kansas race as the lowest-ranked driver among the twelve remaining playoff contenders, hoping for a breakout performance that would keep his championship hopes alive. As the laps wound down, he found himself leading, with Hamlin—his team co-owner and fellow Toyota driver—pressing closely behind. In Turn 3, Hamlin chose to dive to the inside of Wallace, squeezing him up the racetrack. Both drivers managed to avoid crashing, but their side-by-side struggle in the final corners sapped their speed, giving Chase Elliott the opening to pass both and secure the checkered flag for Chevrolet.
Had Hamlin settled for second place, Wallace would have taken the win and automatically advanced into the Round of 8. Instead, the aggressive maneuver resulted in neither Hamlin nor Wallace coming away with the victory or a guaranteed playoff berth. Instead, Wallace finished fifth, and Hamlin failed to reach his milestone 60th Cup Series win, both drivers leaving Kansas Speedway with disappointment.
Wallace Reflects on Lost Opportunity Amid Playoff Pressure
For Wallace, the outcome was a stinging setback. Instead of sealing a spot among the final eight, his points gap to the crucial “bubble” remained nearly unchanged. Now, he is 26 points below the cutoff, compared to 27 entering Kansas, making his path forward in the playoffs extraordinarily difficult with a single race left in the round.
“I thought it was meant to be. And then it wasn’t,”
Bubba Wallace expressed, recalling his fleeting hopes of victory at Kansas.
“All in all, the positives, though: We were minus 26 coming in — or minus 27 coming in. We’re minus 26 leaving. We gained a point,”
Wallace added, his words laced with sarcasm and dejection.
Denny Hamlin States He Would Make Same Choice Again
The aftermath of the race saw much discussion about Hamlin’s tactics. Wallace was openly frustrated not only by the result but also at his team boss’s aggressive approach on the final lap, particularly since Hamlin races for Joe Gibbs Racing but co-owns Wallace’s 23XI Racing team with Michael Jordan.
“He’s a dumbass for that move,”
Wallace said on pit road after the event, showing little restraint in his critique.
“I don’t care if he’s my boss or not. But we’re going for the win. I hate that we gave it to Chevrolet there.”
– Bubba Wallace, driver
Although Hamlin acknowledged the outcome was deeply disappointing, his regret was personal—falling short of another career win—rather than remorse for racing against Wallace as hard as he did.
“I wanted it bad. It would have been 60 (career wins) for me. The team just did an amazing job with the car. Just really, really fast. Gave me everything I needed. Got the restart I needed. Just couldn’t finish it there on the last corner.”
– Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver
On his podcast, Hamlin clarified that, while he was upset about not winning, he stood by his approach and would not apologize for it.
“I definitely won’t apologize for racing for the win,”
Hamlin said during his podcast.
“On Sunday, I am the driver. The person in the 11 car is the driver. … People expect me to be a different person. They expect me to be the guy with a 23XI shirt on when I’m in the 11 car. And that’s just not possible.”
– Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver
Tensions Flare Between Wallace and Hamlin After the Race
Wallace’s dissatisfaction became evident beyond words. During the cool-down lap after the checkered flag, cameras caught him signaling his unhappiness toward Hamlin with a middle finger, underscoring the emotional fallout from the Kansas battle—an image that quickly circulated among NASCAR fans and insiders.
Bubba Wallace’s gesture was widely noticed, as he demonstrated his reaction to Denny Hamlin after the finish.
The post-race interaction between the two was brief and not entirely cordial. Wallace approached Hamlin as he was being interviewed on pit road, exchanged a quick handshake, but then rebuffed Hamlin’s attempt at a half hug by walking away.
This exchange highlighted the palpable frustration but also suggested that, even amid disappointment, both drivers were willing to move forward.
Hamlin Accepts Wallace’s Response as Part of Racing Rivalry
Asked whether Wallace’s hand gesture bothered him as a car owner, Hamlin addressed the incident on his Monday podcast. He distinguished between his role as co-owner at 23XI Racing and as a competitor in the No. 11 car for Joe Gibbs Racing, expressing understanding for Wallace’s emotional response in the heat of the moment.
“If he were to flip me off at 23XI as the car owner, we would have an employer, employee problem,”
Hamlin said on his Monday podcast.
“But as a competitor, he flipped off the driver of the 11. I don’t have an issue with that.”
– Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver and co-owner
“I don’t take that personally. I’m assuming we got someone that is on the field in the game in a heated moment. I give him grace for that, because we are competitors on Sunday.”
– Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver and co-owner
What the Kansas Showdown Means for the Playoffs and Drivers
The Denny Hamlin Kansas race move will be debated for its timing, sportsmanship, and consequences as the NASCAR playoffs continue. For Wallace, the narrow one-point gain leaves little room for error as he attempts to keep his championship hopes alive in the next round. Hamlin, meanwhile, remains a strong contender, but at the cost of further straining the team dynamic at 23XI Racing, the organization he co-owns with NBA legend Michael Jordan. As the drivers prepare for the final race before the cutoff, the intensity among competitors and owners alike sets the stage for even more drama, with every decision likely to face scrutiny.
WHAT A FINISH. CHASE ELLIOTT GETS BY BUBBA WALLACE AND DENNY HAMLIN TO WIN AT KANSAS! pic.twitter.com/QkSw4rSWt2
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) September 28, 2025
Sunday was about Denny the driver, not Denny the owner. 🤷♂️
This week's Actions Detrimental is out now! 🔥
Spotify: https://t.co/UJPOecjbCK
Apple: https://t.co/vAybg7bs3j
YouTube: https://t.co/LuFQYitFkc pic.twitter.com/crsPIAy6yt— Dirty Mo Media (@DirtyMoMedia) September 29, 2025
Bubba Wallace shows his displeasure to team owner Denny Hamlin after the checkered flag. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/belqTREHw0
— Noah Lewis (@Noah_Lewis1) September 28, 2025
#NASCAR … As Denny Hamlin talked to us on pit road, Bubba Wallace came by for a brief embrace. pic.twitter.com/8yBMRB2PtT
— Dustin Long (@dustinlong) September 28, 2025
