In 2018, Bubba Wallace experienced a tense moment with Denny Hamlin during the final lap of the Daytona 500, igniting a fallout that extended beyond the racetrack. The two drivers collided while battling for second place, with Wallace securing a runner-up finish in his Daytona 500 debut and Hamlin coming in third. However, the incident took a sharp turn off track after Hamlin joked on a podcast that many drivers rely on Adderall to remain focused during races.
Wallace responded publicly to Hamlin’s comment, saying he should
“might need to take some Adderall for that one,”
which led to further tension between the two. On The Athletic’s 12 Questions podcast, Wallace explained how the Adderall remark spiraled into a bigger issue:
“There you go, that’s one. Denny still says I blew his tire (at) the finish in the 500…. I took it and ran with that, and I tried to tell him that. But he mentioned something about Adderall. Remember that whole Adderall thing? I got a call from a sponsor, like, ‘Hey, are you on it?’ It was something that snowballed into something much bigger. So I’m like, ‘Dude, what the f**k? You’re putting us in a bad spot because you said 90 percent of the drivers are on Adderall. Not cool. I don’t appreciate that.”
This off-track comment complicated the rivalry, making it clear the clash wasn’t just about contact on the racecourse.
Escalation of the Tensions at Atlanta
The rivalry intensified at the following race in Atlanta, when instead of resolving their differences, Wallace and Hamlin engaged in a heated confrontation. Wallace recalled the altercation, highlighting Hamlin’s defensive reaction:
“He said, ‘You think I need an f**king PR lesson from you?’ Typical Denny. He would probably still say that today. Then we get to Atlanta to talk it out, and we did the opposite of that,”
Wallace added.
This exchange underscored how the earlier frictions were unresolved, brewing tension that continued despite the drivers’ future professional connection.
How the Fallout Fits Into Their Current Dynamic
Fast forward seven years, Bubba Wallace now drives the No. 23 Toyota for 23XI Racing, a team co-owned by Hamlin and basketball legend Michael Jordan. Though the anger from their early clashes at Daytona has subsided, Hamlin has never fully admitted fault in the dispute. For Wallace, the experience remains a lasting lesson about the consequences words may have in NASCAR’s high-pressure environment, especially when sponsors and public perception are involved.
Bubba Wallace’s Bid for a Career-Best Playoff Run
Bubba Wallace is currently positioned for the most successful NASCAR Cup Series campaign of his career, building momentum in the 2025 season. After finishing 10th overall in 2023 and reaching the Round of 12 in the playoffs, Wallace has shown improved consistency and speed this year. His No. 23 Toyota team backs him with a pit crew ranked second overall during the regular season, reflecting strong team performance.
In key performance metrics, Wallace ranks among the best, holding seventh in passing, ninth in defense, eighth in speed, and third in restarts according to Racing Insights. Yet, he acknowledges that clinching victories hinges on sharper execution during critical moments.
This was evident at the recent World Wide Technology Raceway race, where Wallace’s sixth-place finish at Darlington gave him a solid 25-point cushion before Gateway. He extended that buffer after finishing eighth at Gateway, earning 15 stage points including a Stage 2 win that added a valuable playoff point.
Looking ahead, the Round of 16 playoff race at Bristol presents a tough challenge due to its unpredictability and Wallace’s average finish of 19.2 in 12 prior starts at the Tennessee short track. Despite that, he enters the race riding strong momentum with six top-10 finishes in his last eight starts, aiming to secure a firm spot in the Round of 12.
Saturday night’s Bristol race offers Bubba Wallace the chance to reinforce his status as a serious playoff contender and extend his evolving postseason story.
