Bubba Wallace Unleashes Fury Over Denny Hamlin’s ‘Adderall’ Comments: A NASCAR Rivalry Ignited!
In a shocking revelation, NASCAR star Bubba Wallace has opened up about a simmering feud with fellow driver and co-owner Denny Hamlin that ignited back in 2018, a clash that transcended the racetrack and shook the foundations of their professional relationship. The drama unfolded during the iconic Daytona 500, where Wallace and Hamlin found themselves embroiled in a fierce battle for supremacy, culminating in a nail-biting finish that would leave both drivers scarred.
As they crossed the finish line, Wallace clinched a stunning runner-up position in his Daytona 500 debut, while Hamlin trailed closely behind in third. But what should have been a moment of celebration quickly turned into a firestorm when Hamlin casually joked on a podcast about drivers taking Adderall to maintain focus. Wallace, not one to let such disparaging remarks slide, retorted on live TV, suggesting Hamlin “might need to take some Adderall for that one.” This playful jab spiraled into a personal vendetta, igniting tensions that would reverberate through the NASCAR garage.
In a candid interview on The Athletic’s 12 Questions podcast, Wallace recounted the fallout from Hamlin’s thoughtless words. “Denny still says I blew his tire at the finish in the 500,” Wallace recalled, revealing the layers of misunderstanding that plagued their relationship. He further elaborated on the fallout, revealing the serious repercussions of Hamlin’s comments: “I got a call from a sponsor, like, ‘Hey, are you on it?’ It snowballed into something much bigger. So I’m like, ‘Dude, what the f**k? You’re putting us in a bad spot because you said 90 percent of the drivers are on Adderall. Not cool. I don’t appreciate that.’”
The Daytona debacle was just the tip of the iceberg. When Wallace and Hamlin attempted to resolve their differences at Atlanta the following week, their confrontation escalated into a heated exchange. “He said, ‘You think I need an f**king PR lesson from you?’ Typical Denny. He would probably still say that today,” Wallace recounted, highlighting the stubbornness that characterized their feud.
Fast forward to today, Wallace drives the No. 23 Toyota for 23XI Racing, a team co-owned by Hamlin and NBA legend Michael Jordan. While the Daytona tensions have since faded, Hamlin has never fully accepted Wallace’s version of events, leaving a lingering uncertainty in their relationship. For Wallace, this episode serves as a crucial lesson about the weight of words and the impact they can have both on and off the track.
As Wallace gears up for what could be a breakout season, he is poised to make history in the NASCAR Cup Series. In 2023, he finished in the Round of 12 and ranked 10th overall. His performance this season has shown that he is ready to take the sport by storm. With impressive stats—seventh in passing, ninth in defense, eighth in speed, and third in restarts—Wallace is a force to be reckoned with.
Last weekend at the World Wide Technology Raceway, Wallace demonstrated his prowess, entering Gateway with a 25-point cushion over the cutline and leaving with double that advantage after finishing eighth and winning a stage, solidifying his playoff position. Now, as he heads into the unpredictable Bristol round of 16, Wallace is not just looking to survive—he’s looking to thrive. With six top-ten finishes in his last eight races, he’s riding high on momentum and ready to make a statement.
For Bubba Wallace, Saturday night isn’t just another race; it’s a chance to lock himself into the Round of 12 and prove that his playoff story is just beginning. The NASCAR world is watching, and the stakes have never been higher. Will he rise to the occasion or succumb to the pressures of the sport? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: the drama between Wallace and Hamlin is far from over.
