“The Result Doesn’t Matter!” Denny Hamlin Admits Bubba Wallace Deserved to Get Penalized over Last Lap Move at Atlanta

The NASCAR Cup Series last Sunday at Atalanta marked another disappointing day for Bubba Wallace, who came close to winning, scored P2, lost to his best friend Ryan Blaney and later was demoted to P29. The No:23 car was found deliberately crossing the yellow line to get an advantage and despite protest from 23XI Racing, the sanctioning body refused to back down.

23XI co-owner Denny Hamlin shared his thoughts on the drama in the latest episode of his Action’s Detrimental podcast. He highlighted that the move deserved a penalty, as NASCAR has punished the drivers, including him in the past, consistently for it. Though Wallace didn’t gain any position with the move, his intention was to do that, hence the reprimand is valid.

When I watched it, I was thinking, that’s definitely going to be a penalty. Because I’ve been penalized for it before. So, I know and understand the rule, and that is, it’s not that you gain a position; you can’t get yourself into a position to gain a position. It’s not literal in terms of ‘advance your position.’  The result doesn’t matter; it’s the intention.

Denny Hamlin said on his podcast.

Further talking about Bubba Wallace controversy, Denny Hamlin pointed out that drivers need to be extra careful, as they are with the outside wall, while running alongside the yellow line. The JGR veteran highlighted how his driver missed the mark and secured the lead for a few seconds, enough to warrant a penalty.

You have to pretend there’s a wall there.  That yellow line, that is a wall; essentially, that is not concrete. That is the in-bounds, out-of-bounds, and the minute you step your foot out of bounds, it doesn’t matter whether you gained an advantage or not; that’s what they call. While the finishing order didn’t show he advanced, if you look in the middle of 3 and 4, Bubba was the furthest car forward at one point. So, he technically gained the lead at some point of the move.

Denny Hamlin said on his Actions Detrimental podcast.

Denny Hamlin defends Bubba Wallace despite the penalty

In the same conversation, the Joe Gibbs Racing veteran also defended the move from Wallace. He pointed out that the No:23 Toyota was too fast to keep it in the limits and with the Atlanta track allowing less room for drivers to make mistakes, it was bound to happen.

In order to win, which he’s trying to do, yes (it’s the right move). At Talladega, there is a ton of track to do that.  At Atlanta, there’s just not a lot of room.  With the speed he was coming around, it would have been hard for him to control his car within the limits, because of how quick he turned left there.

Denny Hamlin said.

The veteran team owner understands why the driver attempted the move, as that was the only move, he could make to win the race. At that moment any driver hungry for race wins would have done the same and those who execute better would come out victorious while other fails.

It was the only shot he had of winning is to get three-wide and hope you get a push. And he just barely crossed over there. No, man, going for a win, I think you gotta go for it.

Denny Hamlin added.

The comments from the veteran racer are on point and shows Wallace made the move because he was desperate for a race win. His teammate Tyler Reddick has won five races in 2026, and part-time teammate Corey Heim has also won a race. Not winning in a fast car is making things tough for the racer.

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