LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Awarding Bubba Wallace a participation trophy for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Playoffs would be unfair.
Compared with where he was just a year ago, “Most Improved” might be a more accurate description.
While Wallace hasn’t won a race this season, and he didn’t advance to the Round of 8, the growth the 30-year-old has experienced on and off the track should not be overlooked.
One year ago, NASCAR parked Wallace after a battle-gone-wrong at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. While contesting fifth-place, Kyle Larson forced Wallace into the Turn 4 wall. Wallace retaliated by hooking Larson on the frontstretch. The incident escalated to a shoving match after Wallace climbed from his car and walked toward Larson’s No. 5 Chevrolet, which came to a stop after bouncing off of Christopher Bell’s car and the fronstretch wall.
“Look, we’re all in the heat of the battle,” Wallace said. “And when you think you’re ‘wronged,’ another wrong is going to make it right and that’s not the case.
“In situations like that, you have to take a step back, as frustrating as it might be. ‘You were already in the wrong. You were put in the wrong by that guy, so let them be the bad guy. You don’t have to match the energy.”
NASCAR set a precedent by suspending Wallace for the next race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Larson pleaded with NASCAR not to suspend his fellow competitor—to no avail. Larson then went on to win, which likely added salt to Wallace’s wounds.
But Wallace emerged stronger following the incident.
“We all recognized what’s real,” he said. “He started it. I finished it. We would have never been in the spot, had he not run me into the fence. Larson and I go way back since the K&N days, where we ran into each other, not happy with each other, to racing in the Cup Series. I have a lot of appreciation for Kyle. I’ve always thought he was one of the best to climb in, and it’s tough going against him every week. I appreciate him, but it is what it is.
“I think just growing up and maturing and trying to think before you do is super important in those situations. But then for me, for road course racing, it’s just like, ‘Do it! Just go out and do it!’ So you have to balance both sides of it.’”
Since joining 23XI Racing in 2021, the season the company debuted, Wallace’s performance has improved exponentially. He finished 21st in the standings his first year with the team. Wallace currently sits 11th entering the 33rd race of 2023.
Certainly, team co-owner Denny Hamlin has been a constant resource for the driver, but recruiting Cup champion Kurt Busch as Wallace’s teammate last year proved invaluable. Unfortunately, Busch was sidelined on July 23 following a career-ending crash at Pocono Raceway. Busch has remained with the team as a mentor and advisor.
And the influence of 23XI’s other owner, NBA GOAT Michael Jordan, cannot be overlooked. Hamlin recently referred to MJ as 23Xi’s “Taylor Swift.”
“He’s our motivation,” Hamlin said. “Between his vision, my vision—that’s why it’s called 23XI. We both care about winning. Both of us are tenacious competitors. We’ve sacrificed a lot. We’ve put a lot of work into being successful and it’s good to see the results of all the hard work we’ve put in.”
Hamlin beams with pride describing how far Wallace has progressed and the success he and 23XI newcomer Tyler Reddick have enjoyed this season with both teams advancing to the Playoffs and Reddick moving on to the Round of 8.
As for Hamlin comparing Jordan to Swift, Wallace just laughs.
“It’s super cool to have the support of MJ,” Wallace said. “To me, and I’ll say this about anybody, MJ is just another human being. You guys and fans of basketball, fans of celebrities—and I don’t mean this in a negative way—but I think you all paint a bigger picture of him than what he actually is. That’s just my opinion.
“But it’s cool for him to be here, support us and support the sport.”
Wallace qualified a career-best seventh for the South Point 400. Reddick rolls off eighth. Entering the weekend, Wallace was confident his first win of 2023 could come this weekend in Sin City. When the NASCAR Cup Series raced at the track in March, he posted a career-high fourth-place result at the 1.5-mile track.
“I know we can win that race,” Wallace said. “We just have to do everything in our power to do it.”
Follow Lee Spencer on Twitter @CandiceSpencer or email her at: [email protected].
