“Hard Guy to Pass” – Denny Hamlin Lauds Bubba Wallace’s Talent and Shows Optimism for 23XI Racing

On Sunday, championship leader Denny Hamlin ended his race in third place. During the post-race interview, he spoke about how his race unfolded. In addition to that, he even talked about Bubba Wallace and the 23XI Racing team, one that Hamlin co-owns.

“He’s one of those drivers, if you put him up front. It’ll probably happen in a 750hp track, he’ll be a hard guy to pass. I was racing him, but I was trying to figure out how to get past him as quick as I could. It was a very important part of the race, I don’t know where he finished, but he had a solid day. My team said that he had some decent speed.

“Got a long way to go, but we’re working really hard to get them in a position by fall where they’re competing inside the top 10 on a regular basis,” he said.

Hamlin insisted that he is trying to build the foundation for the team’s success. Of course, he acknowledged that they have a long way to go, but Hamlin is confident that they will eventually get there. The driver revealed that the team’s goal is to get into the Top 10 by fall.

How did the race pan out for Denny Hamlin and Bubba Wallace?

While Hamlin finished third, Bubba Wallace could only muster 16th fastest on the track. On the bright side, this is his best finish so far in the 2021 Cup Series campaign. While he would have preferred a higher finish, but there is plenty of time for him climb up the ladder.

This is 23XI Racing’s first season in the Cup Series, so the expectations will be kept realistic. However, it will not stop the likes of co-owner Michael Jordan from being a little ambitious. With a driver like Bubba Wallace, the team should be destined for great things in the future. For now, Wallace will be looking forward to the Next Gen test at Richmond and the Cup race at Atlanta.

READ MORE: Bubba Wallace Set to Test NASCAR Next Gen Car at Richmond Raceway This Week