Daytona week is just a stone’s throw away, and you can feel the buzz in the air, just like a festival. But now, it’s not just a feeling; it’s something you can see with your own eyes. Toyota recently let the cat out of the bag by putting their Daytona-themed cars right at their front door. The slip-up gave everyone a sneak peek at Bubba Wallace‘s ride, decked out in McDonald’s colors for the big race.

Remember how McDonald’s played fairy godmother to the #23 car? That was when Bubba Wallace clinched his first Cup Series victory on October 4, 2021, at Talladega Superspeedway. Well, he’s all geared up to “getting 2014 back,” with his trusty crew chief Bootie Barker by his side.

#23 is setting his sights on replicating last year’s soaring confidence

Though the team probably had plans to pull the curtain back on the new paint job themselves, the accidental or maybe deliberate reveal turned out to be a silver lining. The only downside to this kind of reveal is that you can’t really gauge the crowd’s reaction. 

But make no mistake, this isn’t likely to shake Bubba Wallace’s or McDonald’s faith in him. After a banner year in 2023, 23XI Racing’s star driver is revving up for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series with fresh strategies and a new outlook. He’s viewing the upcoming season as a field ripe with chances for a comeback.

In a heart-to-heart interview with NBC Sports, Bubba Wallace reflected on the past and eyed the future, drawing inspiration from his younger self at the 2014 Texas Truck Race. He’s on a mission to recapture that old spark and self-assurance. “We were running second, trying to pass Kyle (Busch) and we blew up and that ended our title chances. It was like ‘d —-, crazy,’ but what I was watching there was a confident Bubba. I feel like I’m kind of getting 2014 back, which is good for me, good for everybody,” NBC Sports captured Wallace’s thoughts.

And let’s not forget, Bubba Wallace’s fans are going all out, making sure Toyota and the competition know that Wallace, with his fiery McDonald’s livery, has an army of supporters cheering him on.

Supporters are buzzing with excitement over the sneak peek of the #23 car

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Amid a lineup of six flashy cars catching the eye, Bubba Wallace’s ride, with its striking blend of black, red, and yellow, stood out from the crowd. Fans were quick to sing its praises, remarking, “That 23 tough 🔥 11 scheme look nice. Made some changes.”

Another fan tipped their hat to the design, making Toyota shine in a new light: “Shoutout who ever wip’d up the 23 and 11. Making the new Toyotas look good.” One admirer, less concerned with the aesthetics, was more taken with the practical side of things, pointing out, “Gonna need to upgrade the that area so it can fit all the Toyotas.”

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Then some threw their full support behind Wallace’s design, with comments like “Bubba scheme is so good,” “Bubba’s scheme is kinda meh to me right now but it will definitely grow on me. Dennys scheme looks super clean tho,” and “Those golden yellow numbers are eating on the 23!!!!!!!”

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Compliments kept rolling in, with fans exclaiming, “That McDonald’s car 🔥” and “First looks at the FedEx and mcdonalds cars congrats.” Yet, not everyone was sold on the new look: “Bubba wins, imo. That’s a sick paint scheme.” What’s your take? Are you on board with the new look, or does it all seem a bit familiar to you?