The drama at Kansas Speedway on September 28, 2025, had everything NASCAR fans love—playoff pressure, overtime chaos, and a heated confrontation between teammates that left everyone talking. When Bubba Wallace flipped off his team owner Denny Hamlin during the cool-down lap, it captured the raw emotion of a win that slipped away in the most painful way possible.
The Final Lap That Changed Everything
Bubba Wallace was leading on the final lap of overtime at Kansas Speedway, just one turn away from locking himself into the Round of 8 playoffs. Behind him, his team owner and boss Denny Hamlin was charging hard, desperate for his 60th career victory.
Coming into Turn 3, Hamlin dove to the inside and got aggressive—too aggressive. The contact sent Wallace sliding into the outside wall, killing both their momentum and opening the door for Chase Elliott to steal the victory on the final corner.
Wallace’s playoff hopes? Gone. His chance at a first Cup Series win? Vanished. His composure? Nowhere to be found.
The Middle Finger Moment
As Wallace drove his damaged Toyota around the cool-down lap, he pulled up alongside Hamlin’s car. That’s when photographer Noah Lewis captured the moment that went viral—Wallace extending his middle finger out his driver’s side window toward his team owner.
The image perfectly captured the raw frustration of a driver who had victory in his grasp, only to have it taken away by the man who signs his paychecks. The business of racing is on. It was NASCAR drama at its finest, and social media exploded with reactions.
Wallace’s Heated Post-Race Comments
According to Frontstretch coverage of post-race comments, when Wallace finally climbed out of his car, he was doing everything he could to contain his rage. His words were carefully chosen, but the message was crystal clear:
“Two years ago, I’d probably say something dumb. I mean, he’s a dumbass for that move, for sure. I don’t care if he’s my boss or not. But we’re going for the win.”
Wallace admitted he was excited to race Hamlin for the victory but was devastated that the contact handed Chase Elliott the win instead of keeping it in the Toyota family.
The Playoff Picture: From Hero to Zero
The timing couldn’t have been worse for Wallace. Going into Kansas, he was already facing elimination pressure, sitting below the playoff cutline. A victory would have automatically advanced him to the Round of 8.
Instead, Wallace finished fifth and now sits 10th in points, 26 points behind the cutline with just one race remaining in the Round of 12. His championship hopes are hanging by a thread heading into the Charlotte Roval next week.
Current Playoff Standings After Kansas:
- 8th Place (Cutline): Joey Logano +13
- 9th Place: Ross Chastain -13
- 10th Place: Bubba Wallace -26
- 11th Place: Tyler Reddick -29
The Kansas Chaos Breakdown
| Driver | Starting Position | Final Position | Impact |
| Chase Elliott | 8th on final restart | 1st (Winner) | Locked into Round of 8 |
| Denny Hamlin | 2nd on final restart | 2nd | Still above cutline (+48) |
| Bubba Wallace | 1st on final restart | 5th | Below cutline (-26) |
Hamlin’s Perspective: Power Steering Problems
For his part, Hamlin was dealing with his own issues. He’d been driving without power steering for the final 50-plus laps, making car control extremely difficult on the 1.5-mile Kansas oval.
ESPN coverage of Hamlin’s comments, Hamlin said, “Just super disappointing. I wanted it bad. It would have been 60 for me. Obviously got really tight there with the No. 23, and we let the No. 9 win.”
Hamlin explained that the lack of power steering made it nearly impossible to control his car precisely, which likely contributed to the contact with Wallace. Still, he took responsibility for the outcome.
The Awkward Handshake Attempt
After the race, Wallace walked up to Hamlin on pit lane and extended his hand for what looked like a reconciliation handshake. But instead of a meaningful conversation, Wallace quickly walked away, leaving the tension unresolved.
When asked if he’d spoken with Hamlin, Wallace’s response was telling: “Can’t talk to him.”
This awkward encounter highlighted just how strained the relationship had become between the driver and his team owner.