(Photo: Molly Gastineau | The Podium Finish)
LAS VEGAS — After a treacherous start to the 2023 season, Bubba Wallace got back on track with a rebound effort in Sunday’s Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube.
Wallace finished fourth, taking advantage of NASCAR Overtime, to notch his first finish inside the top 1o this season.
The 23XI Racing driver qualified for the race 13th and navigated into the top 10 for points in each stage. He was part of a consistent Toyota effort that included Christopher Bell and Martin Truex Jr. in the top 10.
Wallace ran sixth in the dwindling laps before a caution came out for Aric Almirola hitting the wall. Bootie Barker called his driver in for two tires and he exited pit road in the same position he entered. But because Truex elected to stay out, Wallace restarted seventh.
Truex sunk through the field on old tires and Wallace navigated past him, Bell and team owner Denny Hamlin to record his best result at Las Vegas.
“Bootie (crew chief) and the team did a great job and it fired off money there,” said Wallace. “I thought we were going to settle for sixth right before that caution came out and I think that’s about where we were all day.
“I almost came over the radio and was like, ‘Hey, good job, we finished sixth.’ Then the caution came out and I perked up again and got some.”
“Love coming here to Vegas. Really thought we had a much better car in the race than what we had in practice. Just couldn’t get the front end to work and we tried everything. We went the other way on air, went the opposite way on air and just could never figure it out so we have a lot of work to do for our mile-and-a-half stuff.”
(Photo: Christopher Vargas | The Podium Finish)
The result is much needed for Wallace after difficulties in each of the first two races.
While leading the Daytona 500, Wallace got shoved out of line and hit the wall, finishing a lap down in 20th with a battered car. He also suffered engine issues at Auto Club Speedway, retiring on Lap 172 and finishing 30th.
“Finally be able to finish a race where we deserve,” said Wallace. “The caution came out and I was like, the gloves are off and you just have to go out there and fight and scrap.”
William Byron led 176 laps and won to highlight a 1-2-3 finish for Hendrick Motorsports. Bell finished behind Wallace in fifth and Truex finished seventh. Hamlin slipped back from fourth to 11th in the closing laps.
