During the closing stages of the NASCAR Cup race at Talladega, defending champion Kyle Larson made a move to his right, from the bottom to the top that collected Kurt Busch, and subsequently, his teammate Bubba Wallace as well. This was something that one can imagine wouldn’t sit well with the 23XI Racing co-owner, Denny Hamlin.

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And perhaps it really didn’t, as one of his tweets suggests.

The thing is, NASCAR posted a video of the last lap crash of the 23XI Racing duo on which Hamlin commented with something not necessarily cryptic, but something without any real context, something open to interpretation.

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“Not clear,” was what the 23XI Racing co-owner wrote.

Now, this could mean two things. Either he is being critical of Kyle Larson for making a move a bit too late, a time when he wasn’t clear to his right as he nudged the elder man Busch.

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Or it could mean that Hamlin is unsure, unclear whether it was the Hendrick driver who was to blame for the subsequent wrecks or not.

Denny Hamlin on his 23XI Racing woes

In an interview after his Richmond win, Denny Hamlin was asked to give his opinion on the situation at 23XI Racing.

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Hamlin emphasized that they’re trying to address “all the issues” that there are. Looking visibly stressed and concerned, the JGR driver then went on to describe the woeful situation in the garages of both #23 and #45.

As for Bubba Wallace’s team, Hamlin had narrowed it down to the pit crew not doing well. “We’re just not doing a good enough job over there,” he said.

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For Kurt Busch’s side of the garage, he was critical of the fact that the car sat in the garage for over 100 laps while a new sponsor was waiting to see the light of the day on the car.

Denny Hamlin Bubba Wallace

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Either way, the co-owner had concluded with a pinch of optimism for the future. “Hopefully we look back on these two months around and say, ‘It’s just a little bump in the road,'” Hamlin said.

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“Because certainly, it’s not acceptable by any means.”

Also Read: Bubba Wallace: 2022 the “Best Year” of My NASCAR Career So Far

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Shaharyar

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Shaharyar is an experienced Senior NASCAR writer at EssentiallySports. A journalist by heart and profession, he has been at the ‘wheel’ for nearly a decade after starting with Formula 1. He has penned over 1,700 articles on the sport. Shaharyar is known for his quick reporting on controversies and feuds in NASCAR and is one of the masterminds behind "NASCAR In and Out", a Reader-Connect Program of EssentiallySports that boasts a weekly reach of fifty thousand subscribers in the US. Shaharyar believes in the conversational style of journalism, where fans are at the heart of the conversation. As a big fan of Kyle Busch, he maintains a commitment to journalistic neutrality in his coverage. A graduate of journalism from a professional university, Shaharyar blends his love for storytelling with the fast-paced nature of the sport to deliver compelling content that resonates with his readers. Despite his admiration for Kyle Busch, Shaharyar is now turning his attention to Hendrick Motorsports star Kyle Larson, whom he believes is a legend in the making. He is always looking to bring fresh perspectives and insights to his readers and engages in healthy debates and discussions about the latest developments in NASCAR. In his free time, Shaharyar enjoys watching soccer and taking long walks to unwind.

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