23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace faced a tough setback at Michigan International Speedway, where a strong performance was derailed by a late-race crash. Entering the race in 15th place in the championship standings, Wallace was in prime position to secure crucial points for his playoff bid. The No. 23 Toyota showed speed from the start, consistently running in the top five before disaster struck.
Late in the race, Wallace was caught in a massive crash heading into Turn 4, involving multiple drivers, including Kyle Larson, who also had one of the fastest cars of the day. Despite Wallace’s best efforts to avoid the chaos, his car sustained damage that effectively ended his chances of a strong finish. The incident also impacted other top drivers, including Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, and Brad Keselowski.
After the race, Wallace expressed his disappointment but remained optimistic about his chances with two races left in the regular season. Although he dropped to 17th in the points standings, Wallace is still hopeful heading into the final races. He acknowledged the frustration of not being able to capitalize on the fast car provided by his 23XI Racing crew but credited them for putting him in contention.
“The result didn’t really matter unless it was a win,” Wallace admitted, understanding that only a victory would have given him the significant points boost he needed.
Despite the setback, there’s still a silver lining for 23XI Racing. While Wallace’s day ended in disappointment, his teammate Tyler Reddick managed to secure the win at Michigan, giving the team valuable data and momentum as they prepare for Daytona. With the win, 23XI Racing remains in the playoff hunt, and Wallace knows that a strong performance or a win at Daytona could be his ticket to the final 16.
Photo from Bubba Wallace Instagram
