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Another race has come and gone, taking with it yet another opportunity to wipe away some tears. The unpredictable wildcard Daytona race turned the playoff landscape upside down. Harrison Burton, who had been languishing in 34th place or lower, celebrated his first victory and secured a spot in the playoffs. Meanwhile, drivers like Bubba Wallace found themselves in a tough spot, as his situation remained unchanged, and Denny Hamlin was not inclined to offer him any comfort.
The 23XI Racing team is split down the middle. While Tyler Reddick basks in the glory of victory, Wallace is still on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoffs. Team owner Hamlin has pointed fingers at Wallace for failing to keep up his winning momentum from the beginning of the season.
Denny Hamlin has adopted a tougher stance
As the Olympic break approached, Bubba Wallace was riding high. After a long series of disappointing finishes, the No. 45 Toyota finally broke into the top five, and it looked like he might just make the playoffs. However, a string of DNFs soon followed. Wallace had a moment of brilliance at Michigan, briefly taking the lead after passing team owner Denny Hamlin, but disaster struck when Kyle Larson’s car lost control on lap 116, taking out Wallace and several others.
In the recent Coke Zero Sugar 400, Michael McDowell flipped onto his side and collided with Wallace. Although he led for 16 laps and finished in sixth place, the 23XI driver couldn’t shake off the gloom surrounding his playoff chances. Denny Hamlin addressed this on an episode of ‘Actions Detrimental,’ but his words for Wallace were far from gentle.
I completely get where he’s coming from; the frustration is real. The media and TV definitely spotlight those last five races before the playoffs, but every race counts. You can’t afford to slip up; aiming for at least 11th or 12th is crucial if you want to feel secure about qualifying on points, Hamlin remarked.
Hamlin didn’t hold back in his critique of Wallace, urging him to step up his game. He suggested that Bubba Wallace hasn’t been performing at the level of the top competitors. “I believe that your adaptability to different tracks and the overall schedule plays a significant role. Keeping that intensity for 36 weeks is incredibly challenging. But that’s what the top drivers do. They prepare consistently every week, regardless of whether the track is favorable or not. It’s all about maintaining that same level of intensity and giving it your all,” he stated.
On February 16, 2024, in Daytona Beach, Florida, NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace was seen during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. While Hamlin was critical, he also expressed understanding for his driver. Bubba Wallace has had success at Daytona in the past, but sustaining that level of performance is no easy feat. In 2022, he was a standout for Toyota, finishing second in the 64th Daytona 500. This year, he also achieved a top-five finish in the same race and came close to another strong performance at the Coke Zero race.
Keeping up a high level of performance throughout the year is no easy feat, particularly due to the immense effort required. From preparing for specific tracks to building relationships with teammates and navigating NASCAR’s constantly evolving regulations, being a successful Cup Series driver presents its own set of challenges.
Denny Hamlin understands this struggle and stands in solidarity with Wallace. He expressed his empathy, saying, “It’s incredibly tough for people to manage all of this because life throws other challenges your way. Believe me, I get it. I’m pulled in so many directions during the week… It’s a real challenge. Sometimes the pit crew needs time to come together, and the driver and crew chief need to sync up as well… Plus, with rules changing in the offseason, adapting can be difficult.” Still, the driver-team owner offered a word of encouragement for Wallace, stating, “But I always ensure that I dedicate myself fully to my job and give it my all.”
Clearly, even Denny Hamlin feels a bit of concern for Bubba Wallace’s situation. It will be interesting to see if the No. 23 driver can secure his spot in the playoffs at the upcoming race at Darlington Raceway, where he has achieved four straight top-ten finishes.