More than 10 drivers have already secured a playoff spot for the Cup Series championship, and the battle for the remaining six spots is heating up. Bubba Wallace was on the team until his accident with Noah Gragson on lap 265 took him out of the safety zone.
While teammate Tyler Reddick already secured a playoff spot with his win at Talladega, Bubba’s road has become even tougher. With eight races to go and Joey Logano breathing down his neck, Bubba needs to stay focused and calm. Denny Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI, didn’t hold back on the podcast “Actions Detrimental,” emphasizing the need for improved performance and consistency.
Bubba’s setback in New Hampshire
In New Hampshire, Bubba Wallace’s playoff hopes took a hit after a dramatic accident involving Noah Gragson. On lap 267, Gragson attempted a pass on the inside but lost traction, colliding with Wallace and Austin Dillon, pushing Bubba below the playoff limit. The car most affected by the accident was Bubba’s #23 Toyota Camry, who parked in front of Gragson’s pit stop to show his displeasure.
23XI co-owner Denny Hamlin expressed his concern on a podcast: Those are the two options. As a co-owner of 23XI, Hamlin made his concerns clear. ” The driver of the No. 11 Toyota spoke further about the rankings, emphasizing the pressure on Wallace.
The three-time Daytona 500 champion clarified: “He’s minus 190, Bubba’s 203. But there’s a busker in front of Logano at minus 153 meters. So, they’re going to get to work. “I’ve got to do better lately, I’ve got to do better all year,” Hamlin said, the urgency clear in his voice.
With the playoff cutoff looming, Hamlin said, “First of all, I can’t have bad luck, and I’ve got to beat Joey in the next seven or eight weeks. It’s not going to be easy, but I’ve got to keep improving.”
With just over two months until the Round of 16, 23XI’s hopes rest on Bubba Wallace. What are the chances that No. 23 will make the playoffs?
Race against the odds
As the NASCAR season races to an exciting climax, Bubba Wallace finds himself in the hot seat for a coveted playoff spot. With just eight races remaining, Wallace is under pressure to deliver a great performance. Historical data paints a mixed picture, making this final stage both a challenge and a great opportunity for the 23XI Racing driver.
So let’s take a look at where Wallace needs to step up his game to keep his playoff dreams alive. First and foremost, Daytona International Speedway is a ray of hope for Wallace. Daytona is an important track for him, as he has had some good results there, including a win, with an average finish of 12.4. If he can put in another outstanding performance, he could pick up around 24 points. That would be a real game changer.
Additionally, Wallace has led 31 laps and earned five top-five finishes at Daytona, making the track a great place to pick up some important points. Michigan International Speedway and Nashville Superspeedway also look promising. With average scores of 18.5 and 17.0, respectively, these routes could be treasure troves if Wallace plays his cards right. Especially at Michigan, where he led 43 laps in 10 starts, proving he can keep up with the lead pack. But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing.
Tracks like the Chicago Street Course, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Richmond Raceway have always been tough for Wallace. His final race at the Chicago Street Course ended with a disappointing 18th place finish, resulting in zero performance-based points. Indianapolis Motor Speedway is even friendlier, with an average score of 26.0. His plans were also thwarted at Richmond Raceway, where Wallace averaged 21.8 points.
He led 80 laps in his most recent race, but these tracks require not only clean runs but some very smart strategies to stay competitive and score all the points possible. Wallace’s ability to tackle these more difficult routes without major setbacks will be crucial to maintaining his points. Looking at the big picture, a few key statistics stand out for Wallace. He has seven top-five finishes and 19 top-10 finishes across a variety of courses, showing that he has what it takes when the conditions are right.
His ability to avoid DNFs (Did Not Finishes) has been fantastic and he has remained consistent. Additionally, Wallace’s average starting position is usually within the top 20, putting him in a competitive position from the start. Ultimately, Wallace’s playoff hopes will depend on a combination of strong finishes on the best tracks and minimizing damage on the more difficult tracks. As Hamlin said, consistency, smart pit stops and maximizing stage points will be key in this high-stakes race. With the right combination of skill and strategy, Wallace can turn the remaining races into a blockbuster trip to the playoffs, making this final race a must-watch for NASCAR fans.
