If you were expecting an apology from Denny Hamlin for his last-lap move on Bubba Wallace at Kansas Speedway, which cost his 23XI Racing driver a shot at the win, think again.
On the final lap of Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400, Hamlin’s No. 11 car, which was suffering from power steering issues, made contact with Wallace entering Turn 3, ultimately sending the No. 23 car into the outside wall, and ending Wallace’s bid at the win.
Related: ‘It Wasn’t Meant to Be’: Bubba Wallace Reacts After Last-Lap Clash with Hamlin at Kansas
Hamlin held on to finish the race in the runner-up spot to race-winner Chase Elliott, while Wallace slid to a fifth-place finish, a result that immediately raised eyebrows given their shared connection through 23XI Racing, the Cup team Hamlin co-owns alongside NBA legend Michael Jordan.
But on the latest episode of his Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin made it clear: when he’s behind the wheel of the No. 11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, he shifts from being Wallace’s team owner into being a JGR driver, who is focused on getting the best result for his No. 11 team.
“If they’re wanting an apology, they can turn [it] off now,” Hamlin said bluntly. “On Sunday, I am the driver… People expect me to be the guy with the 23XI shirt on when I’m in the No. 11 car, and that’s just not possible.”
Hamlin emphasized that his role as team owner and driver is distinctly separate, especially on race day.
“My responsibility as a team owner comes Monday through Saturday,” Hamlin said. “It is not up to me to get 23XI Racing into the Round of 8. That’s not my responsibility. My responsibility is to get the No. 11 [team] into the Round of 8.”
In fact, Hamlin suggested that if he had backed off to let Wallace win on Sunday, it would have created even more controversy.
“Could you imagine the outrage if I just back off and let him have it? Holy shit. People would lose their minds.”
Hamlin reaffirmed his explanation of the incident by saying the move didn’t result in intentional contact, but that it was a misjudgment in the heat of the moment. He referenced braking data and race footage, saying he had every intention of cleanly making the corner but miscalculated the angles and positioning.
“I’ve got the data to prove it… I backed off early, I’m on the brakes,” Hamlin explained. “Now that I can analyze it more, I don’t even see the No. 23. Had I seen what I see now, I would have backed out early.”
While Hamlin admitted he would have approached the situation differently with hindsight, he reiterated that his actions were about winning a race, not sabotaging a teammate or hurting his own organization.
“I’m not going to apologize for trying to win the race,” Hamlin said. “The No. 11 team was the most deserving car to win that race, without a doubt.”
Hamlin continued, “I saw an opportunity going into Turn 3 to win the race… I’m ahead going into Turn 3 thinking we’re money.”
Has Hamlin’s move and thought process in the days after Sunday’s race at Kansas raised tension within the 23XI Racing team with a Playoff spot on the line for Wallace? Hamlin’s aggressive move and unapologetic response will undoubtedly be a lingering story as the NASCAR Cup Series heads to the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval for the Round of 12 cutoff race.
If you would like to listen to the latest episode of Actions Detrimental, here is a player with the episode, titled “I Won’t Apologize”, loaded up:
