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When Denny Hamlin isn’t behind the wheel, he seamlessly shifts into the role of a hands-on team owner. Whether he’s congratulating his drivers on strong finishes or postseason berths, or publicly championing their efforts and contract details on his podcast, Hamlin plays the part with conviction. Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace, now key cogs in his operation, appear more in sync with their boss these days. Even when they outperform him on the track, Hamlin no longer bristles as he might have in years past.
Fast-forward to now, and they find themselves in an owner-driver relationship under the 23XI banner. While the past hasn’t been erased, the professional respect is evident. Wallace, when recently asked to reflect on Hamlin’s 700th Cup start and his relationship with the JGR driver, acknowledged both their rocky history and Hamlin’s impact on the team’s journey.
Wallace said, “Yeah. Denny and I, we’ve obviously raced together for a really long time. And I haven’t seen eye to eye on many things, but ever since coming over [to] 23XI, he’s been an instrumental part of helping our organization get better and better, and it’s cool to see where we’re at five years in, having four cars here this weekend.”
He added, “And he’s passionate about the sport and the legacy that he’s leaving. And so I think it’s cool just to say I’ve raced for Denny Hamlin. And yeah, we’re just trying to make it better and better.”
What remains intriguing is how Hamlin himself would now reflect on that fiery 2018 run-in, and how he might have handled such a flashpoint had Wallace already been driving under his banner at the time.
What led to tensions between Hamlin and Wallace?
A relaxed rapport wasn’t always the dynamic with Denny Hamlin and Bubba Wallace. It all started in 2018 when Wallace made his full-time Cup Series debut with Richard Petty Motorsports and tensions flared in his first Daytona 500.
Wallace edged past Hamlin in a fierce drag race to the line to claim second place behind Austin Dillon, sparking a post-race exchange that left no love lost between the two. Wallace didn’t mince words in his interviews, and the duo clashed again in the garage shortly after.
That friction carried into the next event at Atlanta, where the animosity reportedly boiled over behind closed doors in the motorhome lot. Wallace admitted back then that he was ousted from Hamlin’s golf group and chose to exit the basketball league himself amid the rising tension.
More must-reads:
- Family man Bubba Wallace enjoying 'cool hobby' of winning in NASCAR
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NASCAR Brickyard 400 takeaways: Bubba Wallace ends lengthy winless streak
Despite a pair of overtime restarts with Kyle Larson to his outside, Bubba Wallace put together two incredible restarts to win the Brickyard 400 and snap a 100-race winless streak. Here are three takeaways from the Brickyard 400: Wallace wins first crown jewel race in double-overtime finish Wallace entered the race on the playoff bubble and faced a rain delay and fuel-mileage concerns in the closing laps, but was not to be denied in a thrilling finish at the "Brickyard." The 23XI Racing driver got clear of Larson and held on to win by 0.222 seconds for his third career victory. The 2025 season has been inconsistent for Wallace with six DNFs and four finishes outside the top 20 in the last five races. Sunday's win not only locks Wallace into the playoffs, but takes some weight off his shoulders and gives him some much-needed momentum with only four races remaining before the postseason begins. Ty Gibbs claims inaugural In-Season Challenge A 21st-place finish is nothing flashy, but it was all that Gibbs needed to end Ty Dillon's Cinderella run in the head-to-head tournament, ultimately having to settle for 28th. Gibbs becomes the first In-Season Challenge champion, taking home the trophy and $1M prize. While Dillon won over a lot of the fan base with his underdog run the last five weeks, Gibbs has been as solid as any driver over the summer months. He had three straight top-10s entering Indianapolis and now has an In-Season Challenge title in his possession, only adding to the recent string of positive results. Tire issues prove costly for Team Penske Team Penske teammates Austin Cindric and Joey Logano elected to stay on track after Ross Chastain's spin on Lap 17. That strategy seemed to be working out well until Cindric had a flat right rear tire on the frontstretch while leading on Lap 84. If that was not enough disappointment, Logano, who was moments away from inheriting the race lead in the final stage, lost a right rear tire on the backstretch with 26 laps to go, compounding a challenging day for the organization. Logano was later caught up in the overtime wreck with Zane Smith and Tyler Reddick and finished 32nd, while Cindric came home 15th. Both drivers were in position to win their first Brickyard 400, but left with nothing to show for it.
Cowboys make questionable move amid Micah Parsons stalemate
The Dallas Cowboys extended one of their stars Sunday, just not the one fans wanted them to pay. At Cowboys training camp Saturday, Dallas fans serenaded owner Jerry Jones with "Pay Micah [Parsons]" chants. The EDGE, of course, is set to play on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract this season. Jones must not have been listening. He gave tight end Jake Ferguson a new contract instead. Dallas and the 26-year-old pass-catcher agreed to a four-year, $52M contract extension, via NFL Media's Ian Rapoport. This move seems head-scratching. Parsons has won the 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year and earned two first-team All-Pro nods since the Cowboys took him with pick No. 12 in the 2021 NFL Draft. The 26-year-old EDGE also finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Ferguson, meanwhile, is solid but not elite. In three seasons with the Cowboys, the 2022 fourth-round pick has made one Pro Bowl and has never finished with more than 761 receiving yards in a season. An extension for Parsons will devour future cap space. The Cowboys may be worried about that after giving quarterback Dak Prescott (four years, $240M) and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (four years, $136M) long-term deals in 2024. Pittsburgh Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt signed a lucrative three-year, $123M extension on July 17, making him the league's highest-paid non-QB. Parsons could command a similar contract. If cap space is Dallas' primary concern, however, why would it extend Ferguson? He's now set to be the NFL's seventh-highest-paid TE. The Cowboys waited to extend Lamb and Prescott just before the start of the 2024 season. They may be doing the same with Parsons. The star defender has said, "Ownership is always gonna make [contract negotiations] drag out." Regardless, the Cowboys should've paid Parsons before Ferguson. That's a much bigger priority for the team.
Stephanie White Puts Indiana Fever Players on Notice Despite Win Against Aces
The Indiana Fever’s starters turned in a strong all-around effort in Thursday’s 80-70 win over the Las Vegas Aces. The starting unit scored at least 13 points each, save for Aari McDonald, who registered nine points in 22 minutes of action. Indiana’s starters combined for 76 out of the team’s 80 points on the evening, which only means that the four other players who came off the bench accounted for just four points in the game. All that came from Sydney Colson, who went 2-of-5 in 18 minutes of playing time. Lexie Hull, Makayla Timpson and Damiris Dantas all failed to score in the win. Stephanie White Calls Out Fever's Bench Be that as it may, offense wasn’t even the biggest concern for head coach Stephanie White. In her postgame press conference, the veteran shot-caller called out Indiana’s bench for their lack of intensity on the defensive end, particularly in the first half. “Our bench has to be ready,” she said. “I felt like our bench in the second half was really good defensively. In the first half, I didn't feel that way. You got to be ready to come in and you got to be ready to guard your matchup and execute the game plan. "We have depth for a reason. We've got quality depth and we've got to be able to use it. So if fatigue is a factor in execution, then they just need to ask for a sub and I'll get them out and get them back in." It has been a bit of a busy stretch for the Fever at the midway point of the season. Thursday’s matchup against the Aces was their second game in three nights, and they will be back in action again on Sunday in a rivalry showdown against the Chicago Sky. White, however, isn’t accepting fatigue as an excuse. This is regardless of the fact that Caitlin Clark remains out with a re-aggravated groin injury. White is adamant that this roster has been built for adversity, and she didn’t hesitate to put her bench on notice after Thursday’s showing.
Mets Could Steal Massive Star From Their Biggest Rival
In 2024, the New York Mets may have pulled off the biggest jersey swap of all time- acquiring massive free agent Juan Soto on an enormous 15-year, $765 million deal. However, this shouldn’t be the end of the line for New York. The team still has money, and perhaps they can use it to pay for a massive star. Big-Name Free Agent Could Be on the Radar for Mets The Biggest Bat on the Free Agent Market May Not be Kyle Tucker Sure, Kyle Tucker is a younger player with some superstar potential. Some might say that he is a superstar. However, the one very consistent bat is the bat of Kyle Schwarber. Over the last five seasons, Schwarber has hit at least 32 homers. This season is no exception, as he is on pace for 57 home runs. Schwarber strikes out a lot. However, his at-bats usually end in either a homer, a strikeout, or a walk. Schwarber remains one of the most significant game-changing bats on the market. He is heading into his age-33 season, but he reminds many of a Nelson Cruz-type bat. A bat that can last well into the late 30s. Tucker may be a good defender and a possibly excellent bat, but consistency remains on the side of Schwarber. The Mets Shouldn’t Stop at Alonso and Soto Now, the Mets may very well have to contend with another free agency of Pete Alonso. However, if the Mets have learned anything this season, they probably won’t hesitate to sign Alonso, especially with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. off the market. This will leave the Mets with options in free agency. Go big or play it safe and improve minimally. The Mets typically aren’t used to liking Schwarber, who seems to always be on a rival team. However, this doesn’t mean that it is impossible for him to pry away from the Phillies. Sure, the Mets can be content with the signing of Soto and, hopefully, also Alonso. But if New York wants to make the best team ever to play in Queens, New York may very well want to go after some of the bigger names on the market. If many people thought the Mets were in contention for Vladdy, then they can definitely be in contention for Schwarber. The Mets also don’t have a definitive DH, and even with some saying Soto is a potential DH in the future, Soto will likely continue to play the outfield. Schwarber would be a dream DH for New York. Schwarber Will Not Be Easy To Sign, But Neither Was Soto If there is one thing that many have learned over the last few seasons, it is that the Mets don’t just settle. The Mets have made huge trades, huge signings, and more. Schwarber has made it relatively clear that he likes Philly, and even his teammates have expressed that they want him to stay. And of course, Philly is capable of providing the money for Schwarber to stay. However, New York is even more capable. If the Mets make a good trade ahead of the deadline, young players live up to their potential, and the Mets make a big splash in free agency, then New York would be virtually unstoppable. It used to be the New York Yankees that got everything they wanted. Now, there might be a new sheriff in town. The Mets are starting to turn the corner and are becoming the new juggernaut in New York. Perhaps the Soto signing was just the beginning. Signing a free agent away from a bitter rival wouldn’t be easy. However, it certainly wouldn’t be the first time for New York.
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