Bubba Wallace locked his future with 23XI Racing on Friday and is now aiming for a spot in the NASCAR knockouts for the first time in his career.
Wallace and 23XI have announced a multi-year contract extension that keeps Wallace at number 23 Toyota, which is the foundation of the company. Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan’s racing team. The organization was founded around the only black driver competing at the top tier of NASCAR and the many partners Wallace signed in 2020 as he became a central figure in the national reckoning on the issues of racism and social justice.
“It was great to have this innovation done and to know that I have a home at 23XI Racing,” said Wallace. “Thanks to MJ and Denny for continuing to trust me. We’ve come a long way together in less than two years and we’ve accomplished some great goals along the way. We know ourselves. There’s still a lot of work to be done, both on and off the track, but I’m pleased with our team and the direction we’re heading.”
Wallace has no intention of testing the free agency market as he believes his only future at NASCAR is with the 23XI.
“I thought from the first day I joined this team that I wanted to make this the place where I retire and the place that I call home for a long time,” Wallace said. “I’m just trying to do the best I can and continue those efforts.”
The team expands this season to add a second car, with veterans Kurt Busch Wallace’s comrade. Busch will miss his fourth race in a row on Sunday with concussion-like symptoms, which have put his playoff berth in jeopardy.
At the same time, Wallace was moving towards his own place in the 16-driver zone. Wallace has never reached the knockout stages of the National Cup and advanced into Sunday’s race in Richmond, placing 19th in his career on the leaderboard.
He finished first of the season last week at the Michigan International Speedway and then finished in second place that brought him close to tears for just the second win of his career.
“We haven’t had our best season yet, but we were able to turn the tide and really show our abilities in these last few races,” said Wallace. “We know the urge to win is high and I think it’s the best chance we’ve had all year, and it’s just me replaying the last reboot and wondering if I can do anything else?
“I’m in a much better position today; I see how incredible our team has been… put us in that position. So much to be happy and grateful for, but in that moment, the sign of failure got me there a second.”
Wallace has four straight finishes in eighth or better, but he needs a win in the three remaining regular races to get to the knockout stages. NASCAR raced at Richmond, the track at Watkins Glen and then Daytona, where Wallace should be counted among the favorites.
Wallace earned his only career win, his first for the 23XI organization, last fall in Talladega. At Daytona, Wallace had four top five finishes in his 10 career starts in the National Cup. Three of them finished second.
“Without a doubt,” Wallace said when asked if he believes he can win the regular season. “We’re really confident with what we’re going to bring Sunday. Watkins Glen is just a race for survival, you never know what could happen. But then Daytona, I think we were. We just have to keep doing what we do like we did in the last four to five races.
“It looks like it’s working. Don’t ask what it is. I can’t really tell you. But it’s working.”
The expansion was announced a day after Wallace hosted more than 3,500 people at Richmond Raceway for the inaugural Bubba’s Block party, which he hopes will give NASCAR a younger, more diverse audience.
The event is one of many initiatives that Wallace has launched as a key player in diversity, equity and inclusion efforts with both 23XI Racing and NASCAR. His Live to Be Different allows Wallace to engage with the Charlotte area community through backpacking trips, and the Knowledge is Power Program takes students to races around the world. country.
Additionally, Wallace’s clothing design collaborations with both McDonald’s and Columbia Sportswear Company brought NASCAR to a new audience.
Hamlin called Wallace “an important part of the early stages of 23XI” and said the team will continue to advance his career.
“The goal was to help him take his career to the next level, and we did,” Hamlin said. “Bubba is continuing to be more competitive every week. We are pleased to see his growth as he and the team work to achieve our goals.”
