Denny Hamlin Declines Apology After Controversial Last-Lap Clash With Bubba Wallace at Kansas Speedway

Denny Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI Racing and driver of the No. 11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, delivered a strong message following a contentious late-race incident at Kansas Speedway where he aggressively raced Bubba Wallace, a driver for 23XI Racing whom he co-owns, resulting in Wallace hitting the wall and Chase Elliott seizing the victory. Hamlin emphasized that on race day he is solely a competitor focused on winning, not a team owner, and therefore refused to apologize for the hard racing move, explaining that he would race any driver the same way regardless of ownership ties. This stance has drawn criticism from many in the racing community who expected preferential treatment for his co-owned driver, but Hamlin maintained that his responsibility is to win for Joe Gibbs Racing and that 23XI Racing’s struggles are due to factors beyond this incident. Hamlin also highlighted the mental separation he maintains between his roles as team owner during the week and racer on race day, emphasizing that his competitive mindset is driven by limited remaining opportunities to secure a championship. Despite the clash, Hamlin acknowledged his respect for Wallace as a competitor but warned against mixing professional roles during competition. The incident underscores tensions within NASCAR where ownership and competition intersect, raising questions about team dynamics and race conduct.