Bubba Wallace starts eighth in the Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois. (Photo: Josh James | The Podium Finish)
MADISON, Ill. – Bubba Wallace remembers his 2014 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win at World Wide Technology Raceway well, but he also knows just how much has changed since that day.
“That’s 10 years ago,” Wallace said. “It’s a crazy thing.”
As long as it has been since he held off German Quiroga for the Drivin’ for Linemen 200 victory, the two-time NASCAR Cup Series winner has not forgotten how to get around this 1.25-mile track.
Wallace had a solid Saturday morning in the Gateway to the West, putting up the fifth-fastest lap time in practice before qualifying eighth for the Enjoy Illinois 300.
“We just need to be a little bit better, I’m a little tight,” Wallace said. “The sun came out as soon as you make the adjustment, so you’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Good start to the weekend, take it and go into tomorrow.”
Wallace enters the 15th race of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season sitting 13th in the points standings, recording back-to-back top-11 finishes.
Wallace has struggled in his two Cup starts at World Wide Technology Raceway, finishing 26th in 2022 after wrecking with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and crashing late and finishing 30th last year.
Bubba Wallace won the 2014 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway. (Photo: Josh James | The Podium Finish)
Being one of nine drivers to have won a NASCAR or ARCA race at World Wide Technology Raceway, Wallace knows that the NASCAR Cup Series is an entirely different beast.
“It’s hard to bring anything from that,” Wallace said. “Putting two-and-two together, you can get around here decent. But it takes more than just being decent at the Cup level. We’ve still got some things to figure out, but I feel like this is the best we’ve ever been here, unloaded off the truck. Our McDonald’s team is working hard, just got to work a little harder.”
At the same time, Wallace savors all of the success he has enjoyed in NASCAR.
“I think we often take things for granted,” Wallace said. “You get a lot of times to reflect back on the past and look at how things work when the times aren’t so good. That’s the same for everybody, it’s called life. We always want to go back and enjoy the good moments. So you’ve got to make the most of them, every time a moment pops up in front of you.”
The Enjoy Illinois 300 from World Wide Technology Raceway takes off on Sunday at 2:30 P.M. ET on Fox Sports 1.
