Denny Hamlin recently weighed in on Bubba Wallace’s situation, highlighting the specific outcome he needs at Darlington to secure a playoff spot. Following Harrison Burton’s victory at Daytona, which propelled the Wood Brothers driver from 34th in points to a playoff position, the road ahead has become even more challenging for the 23XI Racing competitor.
Currently, Wallace finds himself 21 points below the cutline. As discussed by Hamlin’s co-host Jared Allen on the latest episode of the Actions Detrimental podcast, Wallace must close that gap on Chris Buescher to have a shot at the playoffs.
Hamlin expressed optimism about Wallace’s ability to bridge the points deficit, referencing the unpredictable nature of the Southern 500 and its historical outcomes. He noted that at Darlington, it’s common for 4-5 frontrunners to encounter difficulties, emphasizing that anything can happen.
“It’s definitely possible. I wouldn’t count Bubba out from having a fantastic day. If he can secure a top 3 finish in each stage and end up in the top 3 overall, it would put significant pressure on the others to avoid mistakes,” Hamlin elaborated.
In a later segment of the podcast, Allen raised the question of whether Hamlin had any concerns regarding the playoff format and Burton’s victory at Daytona, which secured him a spot in the playoffs.
“I’m not sure. We’re on the flight back, right? Everyone on board had their own ideas on how to improve things. But from an ownership perspective, it’s definitely not ideal,” Hamlin remarked. [35:25]
The co-owner of 23XI Racing highlighted that his driver is currently 13th in points, while a driver sitting in 34th place will soon be ahead in the playoff standings. Hamlin admitted that it’s “hard to swallow,” yet he understands that these are the established rules.
Nevertheless, he emphasized that the focus should be on winning.
Denny Hamlin has been impressed with Bubba Wallace’s recent performances.
With just two finishes outside the top 10 in his last seven races, Bubba Wallace is enjoying one of the most consistent seasons of his career. Although he hasn’t secured a win yet and is currently out of the playoffs with one race remaining, Wallace has achieved five top-five finishes this season.
This marks the highest number of top-five finishes for him at this point in the season throughout his entire Cup career.
Even though he hasn’t made it to the playoffs or secured a victory this season, Denny Hamlin, his boss, isn’t completely dissatisfied with his driver.
“I’m not feeling bitter about the #23 team’s current situation. Honestly, I’m pleased with the performance I’m witnessing now. It’s solid and acceptable. I wish it hadn’t come so late in the season, but they’re really hitting their stride. They’re competing well,” Hamlin remarked about Wallace.
With that in mind, it will be intriguing to see how Bubba Wallace performs in the upcoming race at Darlington.
To make the playoffs, he needs to either clinch a win or earn 26 more points than Chris Buescher.
