NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace had a lot to reflect on this past week after the final restart incident at Kansas Speedway with his 23Xi Racing team owner Denny Hamlin. Wallace simply said, “It’s definitely been a somber week, for sure.”
He also shared what and when they met to discuss the ordeal.
Owner and Driver Talk…Finally
Wallace shared he hadn’t talked with Hamlin the entire past week. It wasn’t until Saturday morning, before Wallace had his Media Availability for the Charlotte Roval, when the two talked face-to-face about last Sunday’s finish.
“I hate that it got to this point and the lingering effect.” Wallace told the media. “Denny and I just talked until about 30 minutes ago (Saturday morning). It was a good heart-to-heart conversation and came from a place of peace.
“It went better than I thought it would. He shared his side of things, and I shared mine and we had a common ground.
“It was kind of funny when I sent him on a detour when I said, ‘You can go first.’ He started talking, and five seconds in I said, ‘Just so you know, I’m not mad about getting fenced going for the win.’ His eyes got all wide.
Wallace Doesn’t Fault Hamlin
Wallace has earned a reputation for not backing down when success is at hand. He had a battle with Kyle Larson at Las Vegas Motor Speedway years ago that wrecked them both. After coming to a stop on the infield grass, Wallace physically went after Larson.
Now, sitting 1oth in Playoff points 26 markers below the cut line to make the Round of 8, the driver of the No. 23 Toyota isn’t going to change his ways. Especially when he’s in a win to get in situation at the Roval.
He realizes Hamlin was doing what he had to do for victory and didn’t find any fault towards his owner and fellow competitor.
“Just so we are all clear on that – that is not going to be the last time where I’m battling for a win and it doesn’t go our way in some fashion, whether that is Denny or anybody in the field,” Wallace said. “But, I’ll be a little gracious here and say 95% of the people on this (in)side of the catch fence look at that move as ‘ooof’ (uncomfortable grimace).
“The other five percent, whether they’re buddies or they don’t care, they see the other side of it. I don’t fault Denny Hamlin racing for the win, for his team and his sponsors.”
No Sh*ts Given
Hamlin and 23XI Racing teammate Tyler Reddick are both in the unique situation of having to race for Hamlin as a team owner, and against him as a fellow competitor.
“I get asked all the time what it’s like to race Denny on the race track,” Wallace shared. “No offense to them, but I could give two sh*ts because he’s a competitor and he’s labeled it that way. That was two competitors going for a win, and so as much so as it didn’t work out, I have to respect that.”
Biggest Disappointment was for Toyota
When the final restart began, there were five Toyota driver in the top-five positions. When the checkered flag waved, it was the Chevrolet of Chase Elliott in Victory Lane.
“My biggest thing was Toyota didn’t win,” Wallace said. “Before I left my motorhome after the race, I texted the Toyota reps apologizing that we didn’t win. It was all of the people that got effected – that is where my frustration came from, because I felt like I was stepping up for them.
“So, while the conversation went really well (with Hamlin), the pain is still there a little bit, but it definitely eased it. I definitely appreciate Denny’s comments, never want him to back down in any scenario, but I didn’t get the chance to see the rest of the corner.
“So yeah, that sucks.”
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