Denny Hamlin pinpoints the common factor between Bubba Wallace and Tony Stewart

23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin shared his thoughts about his driver Bubbe Wallace’s struggle to perform early in the season.

Denny Hamlin pinpoints the common factor between Bubba Wallace and Tony Stewart

Bubba Wallace, Denny Hamlin and Tony Stewart (Via IMAGO)

The 2024 NASCAR Cup season was a disappointing year for 23XI Racing star driver Bubba Wallace, despite him securing the most points of his career. He ended the year winless and missed out on the playoff, while his teammate Tyler Reddick secured the regular season championship alongside as well making into the championship-4.

23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin talked about his racer’s performance and expectations, as the No:23 team is having a strong start to the 2025 season. He highlighted how his racer hasn’t been able to convert his 10-race consistency to 25 or more races as he should. Hamlin wasn’t Bubba Wallace to start producing early in the races and don’t put his team in a such a panic situation.

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They have had 10-to-12 races stretches in his career where he has been as a top-five driver and team. They’ve not done it for 26 races or 36 races yet. They’ve not put it together for a full season yet. It is unfortunate because what has happened is a panic in the last 10 races before the playoffs start…if we would have started that process earlier, we wouldn’t have been in a panic.

Denny Hamlin said via speedwaymedia.

He then highlighted how he has faced such situation in the past, over slowly starts and how he struggled to perform until the summer. Hamlin also highlighted how ex-Cup champion Tony Stewart was like them, as he also always took time get into race winning form. He then advised Wallace to work on starting the season strong as he isn’t among drivers that are guaranteed to win.

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I think it is for Bubba is that every race is very important. I fought it for most of my career. I fought getting off to slow starts, and it wasn’t until the summer months. Tony Stewart was always known for, well, wait till it gets to the summer… If you are not one of the guys that are guaranteed to win every win, you have to be solid from beginning to end.

Denny Hamlin added.

Denny Hamlin’s relationship with Joe Gibbs changed since becoming team owner

In the same interview ahead of the Phoenix race weekend, Hamlin was how his relationship with Joe Gibbs changed as he is now a team owner. He asserted that they still have the strong bond, though the dynamics have changed. But somethings have changed as he now has a new perspective about running a team.

Joe Gibbs and Denny Hamlin
Joe Gibbs and Denny Hamlin (Credits: Yardbarker)

Joe (Gibbs) has been great – just like he has always been. He has been my second father – my first father on the race track for all of my career. I believe that we’ve actually come closer in the sense that we are talking about…I give my perspective on things. He has been so used to things going one certain way, and now that has been challenged a bit, I think he has opened his eyes a little bit.

Denny Hamlin said.

The comments from JGR veteran shows both the strong bond and the unique dynamic they have developed over the years. 23XI is successful only because of the support from JGR, hence the relationship is only going to get close but with a different dynamic.