There are 4 crown jewel occasions that stand above all of the others in NASCAR, and Bubba Wallace already has a victory in one in every of them, prevailing over Kyle Larson to win the 2025 Brickyard 400.
However what in regards to the Daytona 500? The 23XI Racing is not any stranger to the entrance of the pack at superspeedways, and earned his first Cup win at Daytona’s sister monitor — Talladega Superspeedway in 2021.
Within the 500, Wallace has been sturdy as properly, coming agonizingly near hoisting the Harley J. Earl trophy twice earlier than in his profession. In 2018, he completed second in his Daytona 500 debut, and recorded one other runner-up end there a number of years later in 2022.
That 12 months, he was even nearer to the win, touching the left-rear fender of race winner Austin Cindric as they crossed the road, ending the race simply 0.036s shy of a Daytona 500 victory.
An indication of fine issues to come back?
Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota
Picture by: Getty Pictures
Sunday will mark Wallace’s ninth begin within the 500, and he’s already feeling assured on account of sure ‘indicators’ that he has been getting.
“I really feel actually good about it,” stated Wallace throughout Daytona 500 Media Day, who was smiling and laughing as he answered varied questions. “Getting quite a lot of indicators that it’s going to be weekend, so don’t ask me what stated indicators had been, however they had been good ones. I be ok with our probabilities, we’ve clearly grown and matured as a staff from final 12 months and from the beginning of 23XI and the beginning of the 23 staff we’ve grown in quite a lot of spots. To return into this 12 months extra assured and extra centered. We’ve simply bought to dot our I’s and cross our t’s, I feel I say that yearly right here at Daytona 500 media day. We simply must put all of it collectively.”
As for what these indicators may very well be, maybe he’ll reveal extra if he does go to Victory Lane on the finish of the weekend. However a part of it needs to be how properly he and his 23XI Racing staff are working collectively after a number of years of development.
“Simply the communication, you’re feeling extra assured in one another and that continues to evolve and develop over time,” commented Wallace. “It doesn’t matter if it’s 12 months 1 or 12 months 20, you be taught one thing new in regards to the folks you’re employed with every single day. It’s simply being extra comfy and placing that each one collectively.”
Taking 23XI to the subsequent stage
Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Pictures
He additionally believes 23XI has the potential to ‘disrupt’ the Massive 3 groups (Hendrick, Gibbs, Penske), and for good cause. 23XI Racing made all of it the best way to the Championship 4 and received the common season title with Tyler Reddick in 2024. Final 12 months, 23XI was one in every of simply 4 groups past the Massive 3 to get their drivers to Victory Lane.
“We wish to put our title in that class, and they’re actually keen about that,” stated Wallace. “We had an awesome management assembly a pair weeks in the past that emphasised on quite a lot of key notes and it was a giant reflection of all of us in that room. So simply excessive expectations. It begins with waking up with the appropriate angle and being current and being on time and giving it your all every single day. How are you going to be higher than the day prior to this. It’s understanding that mindset and adapting to that’s going to be enormous for us. Simply preserve pushing.
“This sport is de facto arduous, the massive three have been round for awhile. Key folks come and go and so they insert their philosophies. We’re nonetheless rising however we’ve already finished some fairly cool issues in a brief period of time and we have now to maintain pushing for extra.”
That every one begins with Daytona this weekend, and Wallace is clearly assured as the game’s greatest occasion quickly approaches.
Learn Additionally:
We wish your opinion!
What would you wish to see on Motorsport.com?
– The Motorsport.com Workforce
