“Things you want more, cost more,” was the message by Michael Jordan for Bubba Wallace after the Daytona race. In a recent conversation, Bubba revealed the 23XI co-owner texts him after every race. In Daytona, Bubba Wallace got a P6 but needed a better finish to solidify his playoff chances. However, he has one more chance going into Darlington and MJ’s push seems to have worked greatly!

The qualification round for the Cook Out Southern 500 recently concluded and the #23 has taken the pole position. Setting up the stage for his most important run of the season. Owners play a crucial role in boosting their drivers. 23XI’s other co-owner, Denny Hamlin, also talks about MJ’s hand being behind Bubba’s success.

Denny Hamlin points out the reasons behind Bubba’s success

Wallace secured his first pole position of 2024 at Darlington Raceway, beating out Carson Hocevar with a blazing lap speed of 167.146 mph. His No. 23 Toyota has been performing exceptionally well this summer, with four top-10 finishes in the last five races. Wallace is eager for a win to solidify his playoff spot. After getting P1, Bubba talked about how things have been different for him this season; he said, “I think from a bigger picture, I’m stressed about being winless in damn near two seasons. Let’s say this was Daytona last year or Bristol (elimination) race. I have no stress compared to those last year, and I think that’s for the better.”

A big reason for the #23’s stress-free season is the co-owners’ unrelenting support. Bubba recently spoke about how advice from champions, like MJ, helps him. Reiterating this, he said, “These guys (MJ) and gals have been in similar situations, kind of around the pressure or the stress side of things. It’s the way they manage and come out on the other side.” According to Wallace, the insights and perspectives from such advice are what help him. This is how it should be between a driver and the owner for the team to thrive. The Wallace faction having their best season so far is enough proof of this. As they have had five top-5s and ten top-10s so far.

Similar to Jordan, Denny Hamlin has also constantly backed Wallace through the highs and the lows. A humble Hamlin also credited MJ for the #23’s success. In a recent press conference, he said, “Of course I mean I think that you know that you know he’s got your back and you know Michael’s been very supportive of uh Bubba and his whole career.” 

Hamlin too has seen a changed Bubba in the 2024 season. Further in the conversation, Hamlin lauded Bubba for taking ownership of his mistakes and blunders, which he didn’t in the past. “He’s taken responsibility for that (his blunders) that’s something that I think that you know a few years ago he would have been placing blame elsewhere so I think that he knows where he needs to improve but I’m very pleased with where he’s at right now and where he’s going to go,” added Hamlin.

However, will all the positive words and the pole position convert into a playoff berth? Only time will tell. Things won’t be very easy fighting Chris Buescher for the 16th spot.

What are Bubba Wallace’s playoff chances?

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Well, Bubba Wallace is surely positive and relaxed about his playoff chances. After getting the pole he said, “All I want for every single person on this team, including myself, is to go to bed tomorrow night and know we did everything we could, we did all we could.” While it is good to be optimistic, the numbers don’t really favor Bubba’s chances. A win would seal the deal, but to get in with points seems a bit distant.

The battle will most likely come down to the 16th position between Wallace and Buescher. If you look at the playoff picture. Bubba will enter the race -21 points behind the cutoff line. While the 21-point difference doesn’t seem much, it is important to note that Buescher had a P3 in the 2023 edition of this race and Bubba was on the 7th. And in the current one, Buescher will be starting from P10. If the #23 fails to get a win, his team has to pray for Buescher to get a bad finish or a DNF. This seems unlikely as the #17 is a careful driver and has only 1 DNF this season so far.

Even NASCAR veteran Kevin Harvick, who had Wallace as his pick to win Daytona, has doubts about the #23 qualifying. In his recent podcast episode of ‘Happy Hour,’ he said, “It’s interesting that we’re here, with the #23 and the #1. Those guys are on the outside looking in. To me, they’re in a must-win situation. They’re way behind Chris Buescher. The only way that Chris Buescher stumbles is if they have a catastrophic issue, moment, or issue.”

We’ll NASCAR has always been a game of uncertainties. Like Harrison Burton winning Daytona. So you never know, the race gods might choose to favor the #23 car in the Darlington race. What do you think are Bubba Wallace’s chances against an equally desperate Chris Buescher? Let us know in the comments below.