Denny Hamlin Declares He “Definitely Won’t Apologize” to Bubba Wallace

Bubba Wallace lost the opportunity to win at Kansas due to Denny Hamlin, but the veteran doesn’t think he did anything wrong.

Denny Hamlin Declares He “Definitely Won’t Apologize” to Bubba Wallace

Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin (Via IMAGO)

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JGR veteran Denny Hamlin found himself in hot waters after the aggressive last lap battle with 23XI Racing drivers Bubba Wallace. He costed the No:23 Toyota driver the win by bumping into him from behind and sending him to the wall. This gave Hendrick Motorsports’s Chase Elliott the chance to steal the win.

Many in the racing community wasn’t happy with the No:11 Toyota driver, as they expected Denny Hamlin to think twice before making questionable moves on 23XI Racing driver, which he co-owns and Toyota teammates. The veteran though isn’t ready to apologize as on his podcast; he declared that he would do anything and everything to win races of the No:11 Joe Gibbs Racing team.

Because I’m racing for the win, and I definitely won’t apologize for racing for the win… On Sunday, I am the driver. The person in the 11 car is the driver. That’s where the disconnect I think comes from is that 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 said via Actions Detrimental podcast.

The veteran declared that no one should expect preferential treatment from him during dules and pointed out that he raced Bubba Wallace just as he would have raced any of his rivals. He declared that his JGR teammate would also have gotten similar treatment at the moment. Hamlin wants 23XI to win races, when he isn’t in a fight for the trophy win them.

I have zero doubts in my mind — I know because I know where my mind was in that moment — is that I was racing the 23 the exact same as I would race anybody in that moment. Truthfully, I would have raced my teammates the same way.

Denny Hamlin added.

Denny Hamlin slams 23XI Racing for poor results and being below the R-12 cutoff

In the same podcast, Hamlin pointed out that the Kansas drama isn’t the sole thing to blame for the No:23 team founding themselves 20+ points off the cutline. He pointed out that 23XI’s poor run at New Hampshire is the reason why they are in a tough spot at the moment. Both Wallace and Tyler Reddick had slow cars at Loudon.

Denny Hamlin and Bubba Wallace
Denny Hamlin and Bubba Wallace (Via IMAGO)

I want to be sympathetic, and I am sympathetic. I hate that the 23 (Wallace) is below the cut, but 23XI ran like (expletive) at (expletive) New Hampshire. That’s why they’re below the cut. I hate that for the drivers, because the drivers unfortunately had to drive that.

Denny Hamlin said.

Further talking about the point, Hamlin highlighted the impressive improvement in Bubba Wallace’s performance this season, with him being one of the most consistent TRD driver this year as well as the only 23XI driver with a win. If not for the DNF’s, the Brickyard 400 winner would have been in a better position than teammate Reddick in the points table.

Bubba’s turnaround over the last years has just been… I can’t beleive it, truthfully. The maturity that he has shown, he’s been the lead car at 23XI, really the entire year. I think the 45 (Tyler Reddick) might have them on average finish, because he doesn’t have as many DNFs. But the 23 has been the fastest freaking car we’ve got. I can’t beleive it.

Denny Hamlin added.

The comments from the veteran racer shows he has sympathy for Bubba Wallace, as well as his team for the Kansas incident and their disappointing performance. But his primary focus is still JGR and winning the title. He isn’t ready to make compromises that will affect his objective.

Also Read: Denny Hamlin Breaks Silence on Bubba Wallace Flipping Him off After Kansas Clash