Bubba Wallace Secures First Berth in NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs
In a momentous achievement for Bubba Wallace, he has earned his first ever berth in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. Wallace expressed his excitement, stating, “I don’t have a lot of things on my Mount Rushmore, I got two faces with my two wins; I’ll put this as the third face up there. It’s pretty special.”
Wallace’s entry into the playoffs came after he successfully avoided a multi-car crash on lap 95 of the Coke Zero Sugar 400, finishing 12th and securing the final spot on the playoff grid through points. This also marks the first time that 23XI Racing, the team co-owned by Denny Hamlin, has qualified both cars for the playoffs, with teammate Tyler Reddick also making it into the postseason.
Hamlin expressed his pride in the team’s accomplishment, applauding their hard work and the support they received from their manufacturer, Toyota, and their alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing. He also commended Wallace’s improvement as a driver, stating, “We’ve seen a really big shift for Bubba getting better. He’s stepping up, and I look forward to seeing what he does.”
With the race playing out in his favor, Wallace could not be overtaken for the playoff spot by another driver on points alone. The only scenario that would have kept him out of the postseason was if there had been a new winner. Fortunately for Wallace, Chris Buescher, his former teammate from the Xfinity Series, took home the victory, leaving no room for doubt.
After the race, Wallace expressed his gratitude towards Buescher, jokingly saying, “I’ll finally let the Dover beef go.” This referred to an incident in 2015 when Buescher collided with Wallace for the race lead at Dover, resulting in a victory for Buescher.
Going into the regular season finale at Daytona, Wallace held the coveted spot that 14 other drivers were vying for. The pressure was immense, and Wallace admitted that he had been feeling stressed all week. However, with his spot in the playoffs secured, he finally felt relieved and calm. He credited this newfound calmness to listening to advice from his team and focusing on controlling the things he could control.
Looking forward to the playoffs, Wallace expressed his optimism and belief in his team’s potential. He had a heart-to-heart with his team after a race in Atlanta, where he emphasized the need to get their act together. Wallace is proud of their progress and is thankful for their efforts.
Wallace’s accomplishment is not only a personal triumph but also a significant moment for 23XI Racing. As the playoffs begin, all eyes will be on Wallace to see how he performs and if he can make further strides in his racing career.