Denny Hamlin 'really happy' for Bubba Wallace after making playoffs with Michael Jordan in attendance

Denny Hamlin was exuberant for Bubba Wallace, who made the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs for the first time in his career.

While Wallace will be Hamlin’s competitor for at least the next three races, Hamlin couldn’t help but wax poetic while remarking about his 23XI Racing hotrod getting a ticket to the dance at Daytona over the weekend.

“Really happy for him,” started Hamlin, via his Actions Detrimental podcast. “I know that he’s been super stressed over the last few weeks. This was a test — he’s battle-tested now. I think Bubba’s — he earned his spot in the playoffs. He did it through performing better than he ever has. He’s getting stage points, and contending. More top tens. More top fives.

“So he’s certainly deserving of his place in the playoffs, and I’m excited to see where that No. 23 team goes in the playoffs. I think the tracks actually lay out very nicely for him. But yeah, this is a big deal.”

Moreover, Hamlin wasn’t the only one happy to see Wallace after Saturday’s race. The other major owner of 23XI Racing, none other than Michael Jordan, was in attendance to watch Wallace make his way into the playoffs, as well.

“I knew Michael was coming, and certainly he wanted to be a supporter. It’s close to home for him, it’s just a hop, skip and a jump, when you hop on the plane and be there. But it was great for him. … All those guys, going up to Bubba and showing the appreciation and gratitude, for getting that No. 23 car in the playoffs, it was awesome, and certainly I wanted to pay my respects as well, to say thank you, and he deserves it,” Hamlin added. “Now go out there, you’ve been battle-tested. You went these last three weeks, having to go through two road courses and a super-speedway, and having to hold a lead, and you did it.

“So now, there’s only one place to go for him now, it’s up. Like he’s got nothing to lose from this point forward. So I’m excited to see what happens.”

Alas, Wallace making the playoffs is the culmination of 23XI Racing’s belief in their driver, as they took a big swing when they hired him to be their wheelman when they first entered NASCAR.

Is a Cinderella championship story on the way for Bubba Wallace? Time will tell, but Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan can bask in at least having a shot at it for 23XI Racing for the time-being.