Bubba Wallace Justifies & Apologizes for Giving Boss “The Bad End of the Stick” at LA Coliseum Clash 2023

Not very often would a NASCAR driver get a chance to say, ‘Hey, I moved my boss on track and took the lead there’. But then again, not many drivers are Bubba Wallace. During the Clash at the Coliseum, the 23XI Racing driver moved his boss Denny Hamlin out of the way to take the lead during lap 44. It was a big tangle-up that meant Hamlin ended up outside the top 10 after the chain of events started by his own driver.

For Hamlin, this would be the second time during the race that someone bumped him out. He was introduced to his old enemy Ross Chastain with a familiar sight, the #1 bumping out the #11.

So it’s rather tough to decide just whose move, between Wallace and Chastain, would have hurt Denny Hamlin more. As for his own driver, he had an explanation for moving his own boss out of the way.

Bubba Wallace explained the tangle with Denny Hamlin

In a post-race interview, Bubba Wallace addressed what happened between him and Denny Hamlin during lap 44 of the 150-lap exhibition race. “I got him good hold, and we got shoved in. I don’t know if Truex was behind me. We all thought it was just enough, there was just enough, and then bumped all of us out and he got the bad end of the stick. So I apologize for that,” said Wallace.

The #23 driver also answered a query concerning what he felt about this car. He said, “Back still hurts, head still hurts.”

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Hamlin has big expectations from Wallace in 2023

Speaking in a recent clip from his upcoming podcast show, Actions Detrimental, Denny Hamlin laid out the expectations he has as an owner from Bubba Wallace in the coming season. He said, “I mean certainly, we expect him to make the playoffs. You know, Bubba did such a great job for, I mean, finished top 10 and points for us racing in the playoffs.,” he said.

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“Although, not many people know that the 45 car with Bubba driving it finished 10th in points last year, in that playoff run. He did a great job…”

So, whether Wallace is able to live up to the expectations, we will know at the end of the season. But even if he does, Hamlin would hope it doesn’t come at the cost of messing his own races.