The hottest topic right now isn’t Chase Elliott’s last-minute Kansas win, but rather the incident between the two Toyota drivers. The discussion of Denny Hamlin’s aggressive move over his employee, Bubba Wallace, is never-ending. Questions about Hamlin’s reputation as a driver and a co-owner are under scrutiny. And now, one Joe Gibbs Racing top brass has dropped the hammer.

Turn 3 ruined it all for Denny Hamlin and his employee, Bubba Wallace. Hamlin had shoved Wallace up the track and into the wall, a split-second, high-stakes move that allowed Chase Elliott to slip past and snatch the victory. Wallace, visibly furious over the lost win, flipped Denny Hamlin off during the cooldown lap. But Hamlin’s ex-crew chief, Chris Gabeheart, adds his own touch to the most heated debate.

Gabehart breaks down the JGR–23XI strategy

The fallout from the Denny Hamlin incident at Kansas ripped off the track as well. And now Joe Gibbs Racing competition director Chris Gabehart has weighed in. He said, “I can’t speak to all alliances, but I can tell you that we work very closely with 23XI and vice versa. From lap one of the season to the final lap of the season and all laps, you know, kind of in between. It’s just, you know, it’s a big part of what we do and has been for some time and will continue to be.” 

He drove home the point that every team has to look out for number one when the checkered flag is in sight, especially in the heat of a wind chase. At the same time, he didn’t shy away from acknowledging just how wild and chaotic things got in the final two laps at Kansas Speedway.

It was Denny Hamlin‘s race to win. Coming off a strong Round of 16 sweep with Joe Gibbs Racing, there was no doubt that Hamlin was going to prioritize his team over his co-owned team with Michael Jordan. Leading almost 60% of the laps, winning both the stages, and pulling off the fastest lap is no easy feat with competitors like Hendrick Motorsports and Penske on your back.

And Hamlin’s chance at a 60th career victory at Kansas slipped away thanks to the incident with Wallace and a failing power steering that only made things stiffer. Gabeheart added, ” I think it’s really important for both teams. And having said that, again, you go to the racetrack and you’ve got to start immersing yourself in your own door number and doing the things that are most important for your own door number. And then especially at the end of the race when you’re racing for a win.”

Moreover, Hamlin refused to apologize to anyone, completely siding with his Joe Gibbs Racing team. Hamlin had set the tone, saying, “I’m racing for the win. And I definitely won’t apologize for racing for the win.” He also added, “On Sunday I am the driver. The person in the 11 car is the driver.” In his eyes, the idea that he should back off for Wallace completely misses the essence of what Sunday’s race is all about. And Chris Gabeheart is here to defend his driver.

Reflecting on the different roles Hamlin holds, he said, ” Just, you know, again, the dynamic between Denny the driver and Denny the owner and 23XI and all those things. I mean, we couldn’t quite write the script this dramatic if we tried. I’m aware of that. But the reality is he was going for a win and nobody can fault him for that. Certainly not me.”

Even though Hamlin sits 48 points above the cutline, Wallace suffered the most with his fifth-place finish. Amid Wallace’s crew chief defending the No. 23 driver and issuing a warning to Hamlin and other competitors, Hamlin finally cleared the air between him and Wallace.

Denny Hamlin showers praise on Bubba Wallace amid Kansas tension

Even after Bubba Wallace flipped him off on the cooldown lap over the edge, Hamlin gave props to his driver and also weighed in on the performance of his 23XI team. On his Actions Detrimental podcast, the 44-year-old driver laid it out.

He said, ” I want to be sympathetic, and I am sympathetic. I hate that the 23 (Wallace) is below the cut, but 23XI ran like dogs**t at f***ing New Hampshire. That’s why they’re below the cut. I hate that for the drivers, because the drivers unfortunately had to drive that. Bubba’s turnaround over the last years has just been… I can’t believe it, truthfully. The maturity that he has shown, he’s been the lead car at 23XI, really the entire year. I think the 45 (Tyler Reddick) might have them on average finish, because he doesn’t have as many DNFs. But the 23 has been the fastest freaking car we’ve got. I can’t believe it.”

With Hamlin chasing this 60th Cup win and potential first title, Wallace is left with his back against the wall heading into the Charlotte ROVAL. With zero road course victories to his name, the odds are stacked high against him, but his recent form shows progress. For Wallace, it is shaping up as a near must-win scenario, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.