Bubba Wallace, driver for 23XI Racing, made headlines when he outpaced his team owner, Denny Hamlin, to claim victory at the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on September 11, 2022. This marked a pivotal moment in Wallace’s career, as he defied expectations and earned widespread praise, even from Hamlin himself.
Wallace’s 2022 season had been a rocky one. His performances up until that point had left much to be desired. Tensions reached a boiling point when Wallace made contact with Kyle Larson at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, leading to Larson’s DNF and a one-race suspension for Wallace. Many critics doubted his abilities, but the Kansas race was a game changer. The victory allowed Wallace, then 30, to silence his detractors and prove he had what it takes.
Wallace started the Kansas race from a solid position, qualifying in sixth place with a best lap time of 30.124 seconds and a top speed of 179.259 mph. He was only 0.225 seconds behind the pole-sitter, Tyler Reddick. From the very beginning, Wallace made it clear he was in it to win, battling fiercely with the competition and steadily climbing the ranks.
By lap 32 of Stage 1, Wallace was already fighting for a top-three spot, taking on Joey Logano, Alex Bowman, and Ross Chastain. Although a pit stop due to loose tires set him back on lap 84, he finished the stage in fifth place. In Stage 2, Wallace continued his climb, securing a fourth-place finish by the end.
The turning point came in the 225th lap when Wallace seized the lead in his #23 Toyota Camry. From that moment on, he held on to his position with determination. As the race neared its conclusion, Hamlin began closing in. By lap 262, Hamlin had trimmed Wallace’s lead to just 1.4 seconds, and with every passing lap, the gap continued to shrink. By lap 266, Hamlin was only 1.2 seconds behind Wallace.
Despite the mounting pressure, Wallace held firm, refusing to relinquish the lead. With grit and skill, he crossed the finish line first, securing the second NASCAR victory of his career. In the post-race interview, Wallace shared his thoughts on the win, expressing pride in his team and satisfaction in proving his doubters wrong. “Just so proud. The pit crew was awesome today. We had one loose wheel, but I’m just thankful. Thanks for the opportunity, and thankful to shut the hell up for a lot of people,” he said with a smile.
Looking at the numbers, Wallace’s performance in the NextGen series has been solid, though not always stellar. His best season finish was in 2023 when he ranked 10th. Throughout his career, Wallace has achieved two wins, three pole positions, 19 top-five finishes, and 34 top-ten finishes. From 2021 until the Bristol race on September 21, 2024, he had led 625 laps in total.
Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin has consistently been in a league of his own. In the 2021 season, Hamlin finished third overall, racking up two wins, 19 top-five finishes, and 25 top-ten finishes. He led an impressive 1,502 laps that season alone. In the following two seasons, Hamlin finished fifth, claiming five victories across 2022 and 2023.
As of the 2024 season, Hamlin is ranked sixth and advancing in the Round of 12, while Wallace sits in 19th place without a win to his name so far. Though the gap between them in terms of stats and rankings is significant, Wallace’s Kansas victory shows that on any given day, he has the potential to go toe-to-toe with the best of the best, even his own boss.
The Kansas victory was more than just a win for Bubba Wallace—it was a statement. It showed that despite a challenging season and numerous setbacks, he has the talent and tenacity to compete at the highest level. Holding off a seasoned champion like Hamlin only made the victory sweeter, as it demonstrated Wallace’s ability to keep his cool under immense pressure.
This race was a pivotal moment not just in Wallace’s season but in his entire career, offering a glimpse of what he’s capable of when everything comes together. It’s a reminder that in racing, just like in life, perseverance and belief can silence the loudest critics.
Bubba Wallace silences his doubters with a brilliant performance, holding off Denny Hamlin for an epic win at Kansas.
