During Sunday’s Round of 12 race at Kansas Speedway, Denny Hamlin showed no leniency toward Bubba Wallace, a moment that signaled ongoing friction between the two drivers. Freddie Kraft, spotter for Wallace’s No. 23 team, indicated that Hamlin should not expect any favors from Wallace for the rest of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, highlighting intensified rivalries as the postseason unfolds.
Wallace’s frustration peaked after a final lap clash when Hamlin’s car washed up the track at Turn 3, resulting in contact that pushed Wallace into the wall. This collision cost both drivers the victory, allowing Chase Elliott to pass on the inside and cross the finish line first. Following the race, Wallace made his displeasure clear by flipping Hamlin the middle finger and openly expressing his annoyance.
Wallace Faces a High-Stakes Challenge at the Charlotte ROVAL
Bubba Wallace now confronts an urgent must-win scenario at the upcoming Charlotte ROVAL race. Despite never having won on a road course, Wallace’s recent performances indicate steady improvement. Entering the Kansas race, Wallace was trailing the playoff cutline by 27 points, and although he managed a fifth-place finish, it only earned him a single point, keeping him under pressure to advance.
The playoff landscape is further complicated by fierce competition from reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano. Had Wallace won at Kansas, Logano would have found himself below the playoff cutline, intensifying the battle for the final spots. Wallace’s spotter Kraft believes Hamlin’s aggressive move at Kansas may prove to be unwise in the long term.
Freddie Kraft Predicts Consequences for Hamlin’s Kansas Move
Kraft expressed concerns that Hamlin’s choices during the Kansas race might negatively impact him in upcoming events, particularly at Phoenix Raceway.
“The biggest thing for me is you talk about watching the cutline move, a week after [Chris] Gabehart says the Penske cars are unbeatable at Phoenix, if we win the race, the 22 is out of the playoffs right now. Obviously, Denny doesn’t know that, but that could come back to bite him,”
Kraft said.
He added,
“If the 22 advances through this round and finds his way to Phoenix, he’s gonna be really f*cking hard to beat there.”
Kraft did not hold back on his assessment of the competition, noting the intensity of the racing environment and the rivalries at play.
“It’s racing, it’s what I’ve done my whole life. I know everybody’s expecting me to come on here and say Denny is an [expletive], but it is what it is,”
he remarked.
Impact on Playoffs and Future Races
The clash between Hamlin and Wallace at Kansas Speedway symbolizes the heightened tension and competitive stakes as the playoffs progress. Wallace’s need to win at Charlotte reflects the precarious position he occupies in the playoff structure, while Hamlin’s aggressive tactics could affect his own trajectory in the championship hunt.
As the season advances toward Phoenix Raceway, the rivalries highlighted here are likely to shape strategies and intensify battles on the track. The outcome at Charlotte may be crucial not just for Wallace’s survival in the playoffs, but also for how other contenders position themselves for the final rounds of the NASCAR Cup Series.
