Bubba Wallace, the underdog, secured a seventh-place finish in his first playoff race. However, despite being the runner-up in stage 1, he finished 32nd due to a bad tire. With just one point keeping him from the cut line, the pressure is on. Can he outmaneuver the competition at the Bristol Motor Speedway to cement his spot in the next round? 

While Wallace keeps the dream of a Cup championship alive for 23XI Racing, another knight in shining armor has emerged at RFK Racing, led by the determined Brad Keselowski. Keselowski’s magic touch has turned Chris Buescher from a regular contender into a championship force. The #6 Ford is their trusty steed, and Keselowski’s unwavering spirit has turned the #17 into one too. And NASCAR insiders are in a heated debate on this. 

Kyle Petty’s bold prediction on the playoff drama

In a recent NASCAR analysis segment, Kyle Petty delivered a significant blow to Bubba Wallace’s playoff hopes while also highlighting the potential of Brad Keselowski. During the discussion, the NASCAR on NBC analyst expressed his belief that the four drivers below the playoff cutline would likely remain in their positions. 

“Yeah, but that, you know what? He, Brad always makes me think … Always makes me think. Which is, and he’s right, and he’s right. Ricky [Stenhouse Jr], the way that they do advance, I’ll say this: They’re not gonna point their way in. I should have clarified that statement. But somebody could win, and I think Ricky is the guy. They could win. I think Brad is exactly right. That’s one of those places.”

Get this: Bubba’s playoff journey is like something out of a Hollywood script. He’s the only one who entered the playoffs empty-handed, without a single playoff point from the regular season. Zip. Zilch. Nada. No stage wins, no checkered flags. Yet, he sneaked into the playoffs as the 16th and final driver. How? 

WATCH THIS STORY: Bubba Wallace Hits Back at Media With a Blunt Message Yall Don’t Pay My Bills

Here’s where it gets twistier than a racetrack’s hairpin turn.

Kansas Speedway’s make-or-break moment for Bubba Wallace

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NASCAR owner points are curious; they belong to the car, not the driver. Bubba Wallace and his #23 team amassed the same points as another team but ended up in fourth place among the non-winning teams. The culprit? None other than Chase Elliott’s #9 HMS team, which finished just one spot ahead. 

Bubba Wallace is ready for a comeback. The stage is set, and the drama is sizzling!

READ MORE: Michael Jordan’s Team’s Ignorance of Bubba Wallace’s 2-Word Cry for Help Might Have Him Eliminated From Playoffs

In NASCAR, nothing is certain except the roar of the engines and the thrill of the chase. So, gear up for the night race in Bristol, where legends will be made, dreams will shatter, and the road to championship glory will take a hard left.