During Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on September 28, Denny Hamlin’s bid for his 60th NASCAR Cup Series victory ended in controversy following a collision with teammate Bubba Wallace in the final corners of the race. The incident directly influenced the outcome, leading to Chase Elliott overtaking both drivers for the win. This Denny Hamlin Kansas finish has sparked intense debate as Hamlin refused to apologize for the contact, stating he was racing competitively, not as a co-owner.
Final Lap Clash Changes Race Outcome
The dramatic conclusion of the race unfolded in turn 3 on the last lap, where Hamlin, striving for the lead, made contact with Wallace, who drives the No. 23 car co-owned by Hamlin himself. The collision caused Wallace to brush the wall and Hamlin to drift up the track, allowing Chase Elliott to pass on the inside and clinch victory. Toyotas had dominated the race, holding the top five spots before the restart with just two laps remaining, making the result particularly disappointing for the manufacturer and Hamlin’s team.
Following the race, criticism aimed at Hamlin focused on the self-inflicted nature of the lost opportunity, as many felt the contact undermined not only Hamlin’s chance to win but also Wallace’s. However, Hamlin took a firm stance during his Monday Actions Detrimental podcast, dismissing any expectation to apologize for his aggressive race-driving.
Hamlin’s Firm Stance on Racing Hard Without Regrets
Hamlin addressed viewers directly on Monday, making clear that a public apology was not forthcoming.
“If they’re wanting an apology, they can turn off now,”
Hamlin said. When pressed on the reasoning, he explained,
“Because I’m racing for the win, and I definitely won’t apologize for racing for the win.”
Though Hamlin is co-owner of 23XI Racing, he emphasized the distinction between his roles as team owner and race driver.
“On Sunday, I am the driver,”
Hamlin clarified.
“The person in the No. 11 car is the driver. That’s where the disconnect comes from, is that people expect me to be a different person. They expect me to be the guy with a 23XI shirt on when I’m in the No. 11 car, and that’s just not possible.”
He stressed that he raced Wallace the same as he would any other competitor.
“I was racing the No. 23 (Wallace) the same as I would race anybody in that moment. Truthfully, I would race my teammates the same way.”
Hamlin has consistently maintained since becoming a team owner in 2021 that he would not favor his co-owned cars during competition.
Prioritizing His Own Championship Quest Over Team Dynamics
Hamlin distinguished his responsibilities as a team owner from his duties as a driver.
“My responsibilities as the team owner comes Monday through Saturday,”
he said.
“It is not up to me to get 23XI into the Round of 8. It’s not my responsibility. My responsibility is to get the No. 11 into the Round of 8. I’m the driver on Sunday of that No. 11. Joe (Gibbs) pays me a lot of money to make sure that car wins a championship or has a shot to.”
Hamlin also pointed out the impossible position he was in regarding public opinion. Had he yielded to Wallace, he would likely have faced criticism for backing off. This illustrates the
“damned if you, damned if you don’t”
nature of his situation during the race.
Intensity at the Overtime Restart Amplifies Stakes
The race’s final laps featured a fierce overtime restart, with all five Toyotas aggressively side drafting and jockeying for position. Hamlin recalled a critical moment between Wallace and Christopher Bell in turn 4 as they approached the white flag, which gave him momentum and confidence that victory remained possible.
He dismissed suggestions that the Toyotas effectively “gave” the win to Chevrolet’s Elliott as “stupid.” Each of the five Toyota drivers, including Hamlin, Wallace, Bell, Chase Briscoe, and Tyler Reddick, had clear motivations—whether securing a race win, automatic spots in the Round of 8, or maximizing points.
Hamlin’s Explanation of the Turn 3 Incident
To explain his side of the contact with Wallace, Hamlin consulted Smart Motorsports Technology data from the race, showing that he entered and braked into turn 3 at the exact same points on every lap, including the final one. The difference was that Wallace’s No. 23 car was beside him, and unexpectedly it failed to turn properly, going straight ahead instead.
He said,
“I took what I thought was the best option, and that was drive into the corner the exact same as I always have. But that was the closest that I ever was side-by-side with someone entering the corner.”
Regarding his awareness of Wallace’s position, Hamlin admitted,
“I have no clue how close to me the No. 23 car is. And when I drive it into the same spot, I have no idea I’m about the enter the corner with no front downforce whatsoever.”
One point Hamlin did not address fully was his spotter’s role during the final moments and whether he received any information on Wallace’s line approaching turn 3.
Aftermath and On-Track Tensions Between Teammates
After the race, Bubba Wallace expressed his frustration by making an obscene gesture toward Hamlin on the cooldown lap. Hamlin took it in stride, interpreting Wallace’s anger as being directed at him personally as the driver, not as a team owner.
Bubba Wallace shows his displeasure to team owner Denny Hamlin after the checkered flag. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/belqTREHw0
— Noah Lewis, Reporter
Reflecting on Alternative Racing Lines and Decisions
Hamlin analyzed his finish in a “Monday morning quarterback” mindset, contemplating other possible ways to approach turn 3 that could have resulted in a win. He identified two potential tactics: running lower on corner entry to create space between himself and Wallace despite a compromised angle, or lifting off sooner to force Wallace to miss the corner and then attempt a recovery on exit.
“If I could do it again, I would like to try that. I’m not saying it would have been successful, but that’d be something I will psychoanalyze,”
Hamlin said.
However, he acknowledged that the split-second decision he made on the track was likely the best option available at the time.
“I wish I could say, ‘oh, I definitely would do this,’ but even now today — having hours to sleep on it — the decision I made in the matter of a split second is not that different than what I would do the next morning. I just wish the outcome was a little different.”
Hamlin’s Final Thoughts: Disappointment but Respect for Competition
Hamlin’s overarching feeling after the event, both Sunday and Monday, remained one of disappointment. He lamented not securing his milestone 60th win and was equally frustrated that Wallace, his teammate and co-owned driver, did not win either.
Despite the outcomes, Hamlin praised the race’s excitement and competitive spirit. “We had an incredible finish,” he said.
I hate that we didn’t win, and my second hate is that the No. 23 car didn’t win. But man, it was an exciting fricking race. And that was two competitors going for it.”
The event served as an intense showcase of NASCAR’s unpredictable and hard-fought battles, leaving fans entertained and drivers facing tough choices in pursuit of victory.
WHAT A FINISH. CHASE ELLIOTT GETS BY BUBBA WALLACE AND DENNY HAMLIN TO WIN AT KANSAS! pic.twitter.com/QkSw4rSWt2
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) September 28, 2025
Bubba Wallace shows his displeasure to team owner Denny Hamlin after the checkered flag. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/belqTREHw0
— Noah Lewis (@Noah_Lewis1) September 28, 2025
