Denny Hamlin came up just short of securing his 60th career NASCAR Cup Series win on Sunday at Kansas Speedway, finishing behind Chase Elliott by a mere 0.069 seconds after a late-race collision with Bubba Wallace. The intense battle unfolded during the final lap of the race, with Hamlin’s attempt to pass Wallace resulting in contact that altered the outcome.
Late-Race Incident Alters Outcome
As the cars sped down the backstretch on the last lap, Hamlin moved aggressively to the left of Wallace in a decisive fight for the lead. This move caused Hamlin to push Wallace into the outside wall, slowing both Toyotas significantly. Capitalizing on this, Chase Elliott maneuvered his No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet to the inside, overtaking both and claiming the victory. This win secured Elliott’s place in the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
Hamlin had dominated much of the race, leading for 159 laps, but his effort fell just short of tying Kevin Harvick with 60 career wins, which currently places Harvick tenth on the all-time NASCAR victories list.
Reaction from Denny Hamlin and Bubba Wallace
Hamlin expressed his frustration after the race, emphasizing the importance of the moment.
“Obviously, I wanted it bad. It would have been 60 for me. The team just did an amazing job with the car, just really, really fast. Gave me everything I needed. Got the restart I needed. Just couldn’t finish it there on the last corner,”
Hamlin said.
Adding complexity to the situation, Hamlin is also a co-owner of Bubba Wallace’s car through 23XI Racing. Wallace needed a victory to advance to the Round of 8 but ended the race in fifth place, leaving him 26 points behind the playoff cutoff line in tenth position.
Wallace’s response was candid and conflicted:
“Two years ago, I’d probably say something dumb,”
he said.
“I mean, he’s a dumbass for that move, for sure. I don’t care if he’s my boss or not. But we’re going for the win. I hate that we gave it to Chevrolet there. Toyotas were super fast and proud to be driving one. I thought it was meant to be, and then it wasn’t.”
Implications for the Playoffs and Teams
Hamlin’s near win illustrates the high stakes and intense competition present in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. His 60th win remains elusive, a milestone that would place him alongside Kevin Harvick on the all-time wins list. Meanwhile, Wallace’s playoff hopes hinge on the upcoming races as he seeks enough points to move forward. For Elliott and Hendrick Motorsports, the Kansas victory strengthens their position in the playoff chase, while the fallout from the contact on the final lap is likely to draw continued attention in the NASCAR community.
