NASCAR‘s 2023 season is at its midpoint; anticipation is at an all-time high. The 16 competitors vying for the championship are put through the wringer by insurmountable expectations from the fans. In light of this, drivers, who find themselves in front of microphones as often as they’re behind the steering wheel, can end up saying unfiltered stuff about their teams, especially when things go south on the track. And this is what Bubba Wallace did ahead of Darlington.

Whether the accusations are justified or simply a release of pent-up frustration varies from case to case. Most recently, Michael Jordan’s star driver took center stage, expressing his expectations for the battles ahead and delivering a loud call for his 23XI Racing team to step up their game.

Bubba Wallace gives an unfiltered reality check to 23XI Racing 

“Leave me the f*** alone. Don’t talk to me the rest of the race,” Wallace conveyed back to his team on the radio back in 2022. Looking at the statement made out of frustration, it unfortunately sums up his current season as well.

While he was going through a difficult season last year, he didn’t really blame his crew. In fact, he only protected them. During a race weekend at Texas Motor Speedway back in May 2022, Wallace told the media, “They [his crew] are young. Some of them, it’s their first year in Cup. There’s a lot of potential there with our group, and they have to realize that, in the moment, you’re going to make mistakes, but you got to forget and move on.

“No matter who says what or what’s thrown at you, you’ve got to erase the bad and be ready to show up again.”

However, since Bubba is in the Playoffs this year, he has changed his stance. Ahead of the first postseason race, he talked about a similar pattern he had observed earlier in the season, where strong starts didn’t translate into strong finishes. It was as if they were missing a crucial piece of the puzzle. During the Playoff Media Day, he opened his piece with: “The last month or so, running fine but not finishing worth a damn.”

Watch This Story | Michael Jordan’s star Bubba Wallace Makes a Somber Confession Highlighting His Inferiority to the 23XI Racing Teammate

“It was like we did a half-pound of air pressure out of the left front. Holy cow! That is it. Well, we weren’t doing that, and we still had the same result.”

Bubba’s determination to excel was evident as he expressed his aspirations, “Am I expecting to run fourth, no I want to run first, but it is not that easy. You can sit there and dream about it, but you have to put in the work and dedication to make this happen.”

Wallace’s frustration and determination were palpable, shedding light on the challenges and complexities of NASCAR, where success demands not only talent but also unwavering commitment and a relentless pursuit of perfection by the team. “The guys at the shop have to do the same thing. We can’t miss a nut or a bolt, loose screw or anything.”

Bubba Wallace tells his ambitions for his first Cup playoff entry

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Wallace further addressed his own expectations amidst the wake-up call he delivered to his 23XI crew, driving home the importance of error-free performances. Bubba’s blunt assessment outlined his expectations for himself and underscored the significance of avoiding costly mistakes, emphasizing the need for him to not “do anything dumb” in order to secure a chance at the Championship 4 race in Phoenix.

Bubba also expressed his confidence in his team’s potential, dismissing the notion that they were merely a 16th-place contender as he outlined his strategy for the playoffs, highlighting the strengths and challenges of each round.

“I think we are a lot better than 16th. I look at this first round as one of the strongest of any of the top 16. So if we can do what we know how to do in the first round and maintain or do some stuff in the second round, there is no reason we can’t be top eight, top four.”

With such a knife-edged tongue, it’s now a thrilling wait to see if Bubba can convert these words into results on the asphalt.

Read More: Hours Before Billionaire Michael Jordan’s Approval, Bubba Wallace Received 5-Word Ultimatum From His NASCAR Team Employee