Bubba Wallace reflects after getting eliminated from the Playoffs at the Charlotte Roval. (Photo: Jared Bokanoski | The Podium Finish)
CONCORD, N.C. — The record book will show Bubba Wallace ran 16th at the Bank of America ROVAL 400 and was unable to advance to the Round of Eight. However, that doesn’t even begin to tell the story of the No. 23 car’s weekend in Charlotte.
It’s no secret that Wallace has struggled on road courses, he’s said it himself on more than one occasion. It’s also no secret that Wallace has shown a lot of maturity this year, which was imminent when he topped the practice charts on Saturday.
After qualifying fourth, Wallace ran in the top five the whole opening stage, electing to stay out as others pit to gain second-place stage points behind teammate Tyler Reddick.
Despite losing track position in the process, Wallace had a lot of speed in his Leidos Toyota to get back to the top 10 at the end of Stage 2.
Wallace had promising opening stages, however, it was apparent he would need a win or multiple drivers would need to have issues to be able to advance. As good as his car was, he didn’t have the track position to find a way to advance onward.
The rally ended for good with 22 laps to go, when Wallace, running 10th, was hit from behind by Daniel Suarez, collecting Austin Cindric in the process.
The round can best be described as a missed opportunity. Knowing he didn’t have any playoff points, Wallace couldn’t complete a career day at Texas before a subpar race at his home track of Talladega.
These thoughts were on Wallace’s mind as he reflected on the last three races.
(Photo: Stephen Conley | The Podium Finish)
“That’s what I thought about as we got spun there,” Wallace said, “This weekend was incredible, just with the effort from the team, from myself. It felt really good to be competitive and run up front.
“There’s a lot to look at. What I analyze is what could I have done and not be in that situation? Could I have been faster and passed another car? How to be better to not put yourself — when you’re racing around there with squirrels. It is what it is. Just didn’t have enough and it wasn’t in the cards.
“We’re putting all of the cards in the right places. Usually, you couldn’t count on the 23 at a road course race, right? I don’t think you can say that anymore and I don’t think I can say I suck at road courses. Back-to-back really good runs at road courses. Finishes were OK, obviously not today. Just got to keep working on your craft. No matter how hard it can get you’ve got to keep working and trying to learn and be better.”
The effort was noticed by his car owners. Even amidst celebrating Reddick advancing to the Round of 8 for the first time, 23XI Racing co-owner Michael Jordan embraced Wallace with a smile on his face.
The other Toyota 23XI Racing co-owner, Denny Hamlin noticed the strides made this weekend.
“He did a phenomenal job this weekend,” Hamlin stated on his Actions Detrimental podcast, “Probably the best road course race that he’s driven. Just came up short.”
Wallace has several tracks he’s performed well at in the final four races, including Homestead-Miami and Martinsville, where he has a combined three truck series wins.
