Bubba Wallace’s current season at 23XI Racing has been a roller coaster ride, and there were hopes that his road course struggles might ease with the addition of road course specialist Tyler Reddick to the team. Nevertheless, the season’s outcomes were evident.

It wasn’t just the challenges that hindered the Alabama native; there were instances where team mistakes also played a role, like a pit road error at Michigan that spoiled both 23XI drivers’ chances on that particular day. Despite the highs and lows, Bubba Wallace remarkably held onto P16, securing his entry into the playoffs. However, the real turning point occurred during the playoff opener at Darlington. It was here that Steve Letarte passionately defended Bubba Wallace, countering Kyle Petty’s claims and showcasing his unwavering support for the talented driver.

Steve Letarte opens up a new chapter for Bubba Wallace

During the last race of the regular season at Daytona, nearly 17 drivers had a shot at claiming that 16th place, creating immense pressure. The No. 23 declined to speak to the media before the race, citing his mental state. However, Kyle Petty criticized Bubba Wallace and even called the No. 23 “mentally fragile.”

In the playoff opener, Wallace was involved in a crash with Joey Logano while attempting to take the lead. Despite this setback, he mounted a comeback and finished in 7th place. Starting with a deficit of -8 points in the playoffs, this P7 finish reduced it to just -1.

During the Motorsports on NBC podcast, Steve Letarte said, “Bubba Wallace who I know he’s still one point out but I thought this 23 team was going to come in absolute fumes. The emotions of making the playoffs can be draining it was super emotional for Bubba Wallace, he wrecks at the end of stage 1 with Joey Logano and I’m like, ‘There it is wheels are coming off’, anything but the resilience I actually think we see the driver of all behind the wheel are in front of our eyes”

“Bootie Barker and Bubba Wallace kind of put It back together and have a solid day. They go minus 8 to minus 1, they’re still outside looking in but they kept themselves in the battles” he concluded.

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With the setbacks at Darlington, Wallace wasn’t satisfied with the result, but the veteran has a strong belief in the #23 driver and appeared content with his performance.

NASCAR veteran stood with the No. 23 after Darlington

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Bubba Wallace faced a challenging start to the race, beginning from P19 and making some initial mistakes. On the final lap of stage 1, he was positioned inside the 22 car but unexpectedly lost control and bumped into #22, Joey Logano. This contact resulted in Wallace spinning out while Logano managed to pass him.

Following the race, Bubba Wallace took the initiative to apologize to Joey Logano and express his disappointment with his performance at Darlington.

However, Kenny Wallace saw a different perspective. Starting in 16th place and now sitting in 13th, just one spot away from the next round, Kenny expressed his support for Bubba Wallace during the Kenny Wallace Show.

He mentioned, “I know a lot of you love to pick on him. But Bubba Wallace, seventh. He’s shown up. I think he can go deep into these playoffs”.

The question of whether Bubba Wallace will secure a place in the next round remains open, and fans are eager to see how he performs in the upcoming races. What do you think?

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