Bubba Wallace Is Hurt Over Kansas Drama Because He Thinks Denny Hamlin “Owes Him”

Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin has explained why he thinks Bubba Wallace might be hurt over the Kansas last lap drama.

Bubba Wallace Is Hurt Over Kansas Drama Because He Thinks Denny Hamlin “Owes Him”

Denny Hamlin and Bubba Wallace (Via IMAGO)

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For the second consecutive race of the R-12, Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin has found himself in hot waters. At New Hampshire he spun out teammates Ty Gibbs and last Sunday at Kansas he sent 23XI Racing, the team he co-owns, driver Bubba Wallace to the wall with just half a lap left in the race. Now the veteran has come out defending himself on his podcast.

In the latest episode of the Actions Detrimental podcast, Denny Hamlin was asked about if there was any awkwardness between, he and his driver after the incident. He responded by highlighting that he lost his temper the week before, due to his expectations with Ty Gibbs, considering he was in the playoffs while the No:54 TRD driver wasn’t.

I think that’s where feelings can get hurt is when you have expectations, and those expectations aren’t met. It’s why I lost my temper last weekend. I had an expectation. I thought we knew that if you’re in the playoffs vs. out, the rules are different.

Denny Hamlin said via Actions Detrimental.

The actions didn’t meet expectations at Loudon and the same happened this week in Kansas with Bubba Wallace, who expected his boss to give him some slack. Talking about any hurt feelings from Wallace’s side, Hamlin pointed out that it is because the No:23 Toyota drivers think the veteran racer owes him.

The actions didn’t meet my expectations, so then I got hot. And so, I think sure, if you think that I owe you this or that, your feelings are probably hurt today.

Denny Hamlin added.

It not unfair that Wallace to think Hamlin might race him differently, considering the employee-employer dynamic. But it was good for the sport that the duo acted like racers and competitors. Unfortunately for Hamlin, the dynamic between then has been redefined and he can no longer expect Wallace not to be selfish if they found themselves in the similar situation in the future.

Denny Hamlin admits he would’ve raced Bubba Wallace different in hindsight

In the same podcast, the three times Daytona 500 winner analysed the moves he made going down the back stretch that resulted in the incident. He highlighted that he didn’t have more than one second to make the call on corner entry angle and more, with the lack of power steering being another major issue.

Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin
Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin (Via IMAGO and @Noah_Lewis1/X)

I have about a second to analyze this as I’m going down the backstretch. As a driver, what I’m trying to do is figure out angles. What angle am I going to take this corner, where is the guy beside me — all those things play a factor in how deep you can drive into a corner or how shallow you need to be or whatever.

Denny Hamlin said.

Now, in hindsight, he things he could have don’t things differently considering how close he was running alongside Wallace. The one key factor behind the incident happening according to Hamlin that he didn’t knew the No:23 Toyota was racing this close to him. The No:11 spotter might not have done a good job explaining that to him.

So, now that I can analyze this more out of the car and look at this more, again, while I’m in this car, in this cocoon going into Turn 3, I don’t even see the 23. I don’t know how close he is, I don’t know if he’s a car width up, is he right on my door. Those are all factors in how your car is going to take the next corner. And so, there are things I would do differently, no doubt about it.

Denny Hamlin added.

The situation wouldn’t have been this bad, if Denny Hamlin or even Christopher Bell went onto win the race instead of Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott, who overtook four Toyota’s to steal the victory. There is no doubt that it was the move from Hamlin that killed the momentum TRD had and got Chevy the win.

Also Read: Denny Hamlin Admits He ‘Regrets Dumping Ty Gibbs’ After JGR team meeting