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DAYTONA BEACH, FL – JULY 05: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #43 U.S. Air Force Chevrolet, stands by his car during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL – JULY 05: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #43 U.S. Air Force Chevrolet, stands by his car during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
For Bubba Wallace and 23XI Racing, one of the biggest plus points ahead of their debut NASCAR season is the presence of Denny Hamlin in the scheme of things. Not only is Hamlin a co-owner, but he is one of the best drivers out there, with a lot of experience.
Wallace realizes that and is extremely grateful for the same. According to him, it is not just Hamlin’s experience, but also the form and confidence Hamlin is personally carrying in NASCAR since last season, that benefits 23XI Racing a lot.
The new No. 23 car driver feels Hamlin’s presence gives the team a lot of momentum, after what he did on the racetrack as well as off it in 2020. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver grabbed seven wins all year, second only to Kevin Harvick.
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Bubba Wallace explains how crucial Denny Hamlin’s role is
“This is big for me, being able to have Denny in the back pocket. Looking at the year he had come off of. There’s a lot of positive momentum for us,” Wallace said recently during a media interaction.

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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 17: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, poses with the trophy in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series 62nd Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Wallace went on to say that the team will have some more ‘really crucial meetings’ in the coming week before it is time to get on the racetrack.
He did not ‘reveal his secrets,’ so to say, but Wallace said that he and Hamlin have outlined some specific things to do in preparation and they will continue to have a healthy dialogue.
“We’ll continue to have that dialogue of what we expect and how to execute the right way and go about things the right way to put ourselves in a position to contend and compete for wins,” Wallace added.
1st car rolled in the @23XIRacing building yesterday. Starting to feel like a race shop once that happens. https://t.co/VKkxLKGYyT
— Michael Wheeler (@MikeCWheeler) January 7, 2021
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Wallace keen on ‘proving a point’
There is one thing Wallace has expressed more than anything else in the weeks and months leading up to the start of the season. That being, how excited and grateful he is for this massive opportunity. He reiterated the same and says he is here to ‘prove a point’.
“This is something I’ve been wanting for so long to go out and try to prove a point, that I belong and we’re gonna go out and compete, contend, and become a household name on the racetrack.”

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SPARTA, KENTUCKY – JULY 12: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #43 Victory Junction Chevrolet, races Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Freight Toyota, during the NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Hamlin’s presence is indeed a big boost for the team, as Wallace mentioned. It will now be interesting to see how Wallace performs in a situation where is competing with Hamlin for a win on the racetrack.
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READ MORE – Bubba Wallace Looks Forward to ‘Finally Meeting’ Michael Jordan at the NASCAR Daytona 500
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