Denny Hamlin has come out in support of Ty Gibbs after the heated post-race confrontation with Bubba Wallace following Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta.

What happened?

The disagreement between Gibbs and Wallace stemmed from the closing laps of the race. Late in Stage 2, Wallace radioed fellow Toyota driver Gibbs to check up and avoid pushing him so he could hold onto fifth place and collect stage points. However, Gibbs stayed committed to his run and made contact with Wallace's rear bumper, which cost the No. 23 Toyota driver stage points.

Why it matters for Denny Hamlin

Hamlin, who is a fellow Toyota driver and a teammate of Gibbs at Joe Gibbs Racing, weighed in on the situation during the latest episode of the Actions Detrimental podcast. He said that asking another driver to slow down was unrealistic, especially given the significant speed variance between the two cars.

"I think this was one of those situations where it was a tough ask, to ask the 54 to check up that much," Hamlin said. "There was just so big of a speed variance, but I understand why the 23 did it. He doesn't want to lose that one spot because they're coming to the end of the stage."

What comes next?

The confrontation between Gibbs and Wallace took another turn when NASCAR reviewed the final lap and handed Wallace a post-race penalty that dropped him from an apparent runner-up finish to 29th, the last car on the lead lap. The penalty also cost him 27 championship points. Wallace argued that he never gained an advantage and insisted he was on the brakes trying to avoid a crash, but NASCAR upheld the ruling after meeting with 23XI Racing.

Hamlin's support for Gibbs has sparked a heated debate in the NASCAR community, with many drivers weighing in on the situation. However, Hamlin remains steadfast in his opinion, saying that Gibbs made the right call not to lift for Wallace.

"I just don't think that's a reasonable ask of anyone," Hamlin said. "If Ty does get on the binders there, he puts himself in danger to help you, and I don't think anyone is signing up for that."

The incident has highlighted the complexities of racing and the difficult decisions that drivers must make on the track. As the NASCAR season continues, it will be interesting to see how this situation plays out and what impact it will have on the championship standings.

The NASCAR Cup Series will continue with the next race scheduled for [insert date].