Ahead of the race this Sunday, Bubba Wallace was announced as one of the entries in the Xfinity Series race. The 23XI Racing driver will be driving for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Perhaps the reason why he’s taking part in another race is to get some practice on the road course of the Circuit of The Americas.
Wallace has been very open with his struggles on racing at road courses compared to ovals, so this move should buy him some extra track time to get up-to-speed on the track before he takes it on in his No.23 Camry on Sunday.
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But there’s one more added motivation for Wallace, one he’s probably not considering or aware of, but it’s there, regardless. And that is of joining the club of drivers who have won a race in all three tiers of NASCAR.
Wallace has already won a race in the Truck Series and won the Talladega race in the Cup Series last year. So should he win the Xfinity Series race at COTA this weekend, he will become the 39th driver in NASCAR history to have won a race in all three tiers.
If Bubba Wallace wins the Xfinity race at COTA then he will be the 39th driver to win in all three NASCAR national touring series!
(39th Triple Threat) pic.twitter.com/bpkoQpgxW8
— Nascarium (@AidanNapier2) March 21, 2022
However, some NASCAR fans weren’t exactly excited about this possibility.
One of them due to rain cancelation. He is a joke driver…
— Chris O (@cbjungle68) March 22, 2022
That Talladega win was not a real win
— Rafa 🏎 (@rgthenascarfan) March 21, 2022
When it comes to Bubba, it's always If, Should have, Would have, Could have, Almost, Close, Barely, Just a little bit more….💩💩🖕
— Stymie (@TCody64) March 22, 2022
Did COTA become a plate race? ….then No.
— TradeCNBC (@TradeCNBC) March 22, 2022
The only way he wins is if Nascar fabricates the win for him just like 'Dega last year.
— Robert Brown (@RGBrown2707) March 22, 2022
He won’t!
— Robert C Schacht (@RobertCSchacht1) March 22, 2022
Bubba Wallace looking forward to JGR reunion
After his announcement of taking part in the Xfinity Series, Bubba Wallace shared his excitement at driving for a team that gave him his first career start.
“I’m looking forward to partnering back up with Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series after making my first career start in NASCAR with them about 10 years ago,” Wallace said.
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“The No. 18 Toyota GR Supra team is always strong and I’m excited to be competing with them at COTA and Indianapolis. Thanks to the team at 23XI and Toyota for helping to make this happen.”
So far this season, Bubba Wallace has had a mixed bag of bad luck and personal mistakes that have contributed to what has been an average season.
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But perhaps this weekend at COTA could be the point where it all changes for him. He is, after all, doubling down on his effort to prepare for the type of race track where he has struggled a lot.