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Denny Hamlin Gets Very Honest With 'Bittersweet' Bubba Wallace Admission

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated Jul 29, 2025 12:55 PM ET

Denny Hamlin vicariously tasted another victory through Bubba Wallace on Sunday.

Wallace captured his first NASCAR Cup Series triumph since 2022 when he became the first Black driver to win a major race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The 23XI Racing driver beat out team owner Hamlin, who finished third a week after winning at Dover.

Hamlin's Joe Gibbs Racing crew fell short of his series-leading fifth win of the season, but the 44-year-old celebrated Wallace's monumental moment. He posted photos with his family and Wallace following a Brickyard 400 that filled Hamlin with mixed emotions.

"Kissing the bricks as an owner is bittersweet. Wish I was doing it with my 11 team," Hamlin wrote. "They gave me everything I needed this weekend. But I'm happy for Bubba Wallace and 23XI Racing. They deserved it."

It wasn't a smooth trip to victory lane for Wallace, who won after an 18-minute rain delay and two overtimes. He fended off runner-up Kyle Larson, who won last year's Brickyard 400, to snap a 100-race win drought and punch his second career playoff ticket.

TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 23: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx All in for Small Business Toyota, waits on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 23, 2022 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

The win was a long time coming for Wallace, but the 31-year-old wrote on social media that he felt good energy ahead of Sunday's race.

"I'm not much of the superstitious type but there were a lot of signs when waking up Sunday morning that led me to manifesting tons of positivity," Wallace said. "Walked in the drivers meeting and said I'm gonna be the one taking that trophy home. Nothing or nobody was gonna take the vision I had for Sunday away from me.

"To see it all play out and come together… it's still unbelievable even though I believed it before it all happened. Life is crazy. The support and love is well heard and felt. Appreciate you all!"

Four more races remain in the regular season before Hamlin and Wallace compete for a Cup Series championship. Hamlin may not be as happy about any 23XI Racing drivers shielding him from a long-eluded title.

They'll go to Iowa Speedway for the Iowa Corn 350 this Sunday. USA Network will air the race, which starts at 3:30 p.m. ET.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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