Bubba Wallace, the driver for 23XI Racing, is maintaining an optimistic outlook even though he won’t be competing in the NASCAR playoffs this season. In a recent discussion, he opened up about his feelings regarding the situation and what lies ahead.
Despite delivering a strong performance in the final regular season race at Darlington, where he led 37 laps and secured the pole position at the Cook Out Southern 500, Wallace fell short of playoff qualification. His teammate, Tyler Reddick, clinched a spot in the playoffs after winning the regular season championship.
During a recent media session, Wallace expressed his disappointment about missing the playoffs but emphasized his happiness for his team.
“It’s tough being on the outside looking in, but I’m genuinely happy for the team,” Wallace remarked.
Looking forward, Wallace is thrilled about a significant life milestone. He and his wife are set to welcome their first child in October, coinciding with Wallace’s 31st birthday on the 8th.
“I’m on the verge of becoming a parent, which means a lot is about to shift in my life. But I’m feeling good about it. It’s a fresh weekend ahead, and I’m ready to set aside all the nonsense and enjoy myself,” he shared (1:23).
Bubba Wallace also commended his team’s hard work and the performance of their cars. He pointed out that they’ve been competitive in every race, and even though they didn’t make the playoffs, he’s focused on moving ahead.
“All you can really ask for is to be in the mix, and that’s exactly where we are. It’s exciting to tackle the challenges that come with each weekend, knowing the car has the potential to win…I know I need to step up my game, but overall, we just keep pushing through these next 10 weeks and see what we can achieve,” he remarked (00:41).
Bubba Wallace reflects on securing his first pole position of the 2024 season.
Bubba Wallace clinched his first pole position of the season during qualifying last Sunday at the final race before the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs in Darlington.
He clocked a lap time of 29.421 seconds at a speed of 167.146 mph in the final round, narrowly edging out Kyle Larson. Following the achievement, Wallace expressed a sense of relief and gratitude towards his 23XI Racing team for helping him secure his third career pole position.
“Coming into this, we were on the bubble, 21 points behind, and there was a lot of pressure. Now, I feel like the pressure has shifted,” Wallace remarked.
Sadly, Wallace’s No. 23 Toyota sustained damage in a crash with just 22 laps remaining, preventing him from catching up to Chris Buescher, whom he had been leading for most of the race.
The Road Ahead: Bubba Wallace Discusses Playoff Disappointment and Embracing Fatherhood in His Latest Reflections
