Unlike the Atlanta Superspeedway action, Crayon 301 at New Hampshire was more of an even playing field for Toyotas. While the Japanese manufacturer struggled to gather speed in the high-flowing lanes of the speedway, the short, Magic Mile was more than welcome, as the Toyotas captured four spots in the top 10. Joe Gibbs Racing driver Martin Truex Jr. took home the lobster, clinching the win. His fellow Toyota drivers at 23XI Racing also had decent performances, with Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick crossing the finish line 6th and 8th, respectively, despite the early on-track confusion.
Though Wallace and Reddick finished in a decent top-10, the postponed Monday race had a few hurdles testing Wallace, as he looked like he was well off. The flat track and the damp conditions themselves were a hard nut to crack as drivers met their match on track, slipping off into the wall while the #23 driver struggled as he missed his pit stop twice, going ahead and getting back right amid the confusion.
But the driver’s tenacity and his driver got him the top 10 finish, eventually earning the praise of his friend, William Byron, and his wife, Amanda Wallace, best wishes following Wallace’s inspirational post after Monday’s race.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Bubba Wallace exposes 23XI Racing’s major flaws following NHMS
Within just a short span, 23XI Racing has established itself as a top team. Their win at COTA this year is a testament to the young team’s capabilities. But after Monday’s race, Wallace was quick to note down the team’s Achilles heel. While the weather itself did its best to halt the race, the damp conditions and the flat nature of the track made things all the more dire for drivers as they struggled to maintain traction.
Bubba Wallace asks team to give him an extra few feet indicating where he should stop in his pit box. He's twice slid through his pit stall today.
— Jordan Bianchi (@Jordan_Bianchi) July 17, 2023
Bubba Wallace also found this the hard way, the #23 Toyota twice missed his pit stop, passing by it and getting back because of the car’s brake issue. While the driver himself has been at the receiving end for several instances, Monday’s race brought back attention to the team’s inadequacy as Wallace publically exposed his team’s major flaw.
During an interview with NBC, the 29-year-old voiced, “This week was a big reflection moment for everybody on the 23 team on how we need to execute better. Mistakes at this point in the season, there’s really no excuse for it, whether it’s my fault on track or the crew’s fault in preparation. We just have to be better as a team moving forward to even think about the playoffs.”
Though the driver earned his much-deserved respect from the community, Wallace also exposed the team’s chink in the armor.
Bubba gets the praise as he sails past the chaos in New Hampshire to a top-10 finish
Trending
Michael Jordan’s Opponent’s Warning Comes True as Roger Penske Shuts Down NASCAR’s Infiltration
Brad Keselowski’s Trump Card Move Could Be a Career-Altering Transfer for Tony Stewart’s Underwhelming Driver
Tony Stewart & Co’s Desperate Bargain Offer to $19.2 Billion Partner Amid NASCAR Exit Leaves Fans Baffled
Ex-SHR Employee Spills Harsh Truth About Tony Stewart’s NASCAR Ownership After Rare Appearance in Phoenix
Injury-Scarred Dale Jr. Slams NASCAR’s Phoenix Obsession After Joe Gibbs’ Grandson’s Dangerous Crash
Despite his dull start this season, the 23XI racing driver has bounced back pretty well. With consecutive top-15 finishes and 4 top-5 finishes, the #23 driver is well near the playoff cutline. Though, he was out of form earlier this year with consistency issues and a troubled mindset, Wallace sort of has turned his luck around, making the most out of the Cup Series ventures.
But with that being said, the competition is as tough as ever, being in the 15th in the point table, Wallace needs to make major strides to secure his playoff chances and that’s exactly what the 29-year-old has been trying to do this past Monday. Battling for position, Wallace took one for the team as he held onto the lead during stage 2 of the race.
View this post on Instagram
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
However, the speedway specialist adapted exceptionally well garnering the praise of the community. With the driver weathering adversity on track, Wallace just couldn’t control himself as he flaunted his accomplishment online with a few wise words as the caption while Amanda commented, “Proud of you!” While his close friend and HMS sensation, William Byron liked the post and expressed his approval.
WATCH THIS STORY: Bubba Wallace exposes the biggest problem with Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing team
With the driver voicing the issues and the scene almost set for an epic playoff battle, Denny Hamlin and his partner Michael Jordan definitely need to make a major rejig to back their driver’s playoff hopes.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad