NASCAR races often see incidents that fade quickly as days pass, but some linger until drivers talk them out face-to-face. Bubba Wallace called the past few days “a somber week” after the Kansas Speedway drama, where he ran second on the final lap, desperate for a win to secure his Round of 8 spot. But Denny Hamlin’s bump sent him too deep in the track, dropping him to fifth and leaving him 26 points below the cutline at 10th in the playoffs. The sting deepened with Hamlin’s firm stance all week long.

Wallace, driving the No. 23 Toyota for 23XI Racing, needed that Kansas victory to advance for the first time in his career, but the contact opened the door for Chase Elliott’s overtime win. Hamlin, chasing his 60th Cup victory despite power steering woes, stood by his move as pure competit

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