Racing enthusiasts consider Bubba Wallace one of the most contentious racers in modern NASCAR racing. Only a few racers divide the racing community with such contrasting opinions as Bubba does. Fans either appreciate the man behind the 23XI Racing‘s No. 23 or criticize him for not being on par with his performances. Whatever may be the case, Bubba Wallace is certainly not someone who may be considered inconsequential. Wallace continues to become a talking point among fans even as he misses the Cup Series playoff action this year.

People are critical of the overtly friendly approach of the 23XI Racing’s ace racer. Then there are his performances. Wallace has remained winless this season and even failed to qualify for the playoffs on points. The 30-year-old thus became a scapegoat for skeptics who deemed him overrated. Wallace gained high appreciation because of a win at the Talladega Superspeedway in his debut Cup Series season in 2021. Wallace had created history with this performance. He became the second racer of color to win a Cup Series race after Wendell Scott in 1963.

However, skeptics allege a decline in his popularity because of his below-average performances in the Cup Series this season. But challenges to these allegations have already surfaced. A veteran NASCAR racer has recently concluded that contrary to the skeptics’ beliefs, Bubba Wallace’s popularity is on the rise!

Bubba Wallace: The people’s racer?

Ever since he arrived in the Cup Series, Bubba Wallace’s racing journey has been full of ups and downs. Fans have widely appreciated his consistency and competitive prowess. However, his failure to achieve anything significant in the Cup Series always remained in the backdrop. But, since the nature of racing in the modern era has developed considerably, new popularity parameters have emerged. Fans today cherish and watch the races not just for the sake of the race but for the overall experience. From a team’s media management to a driver’s upright approach towards the fans. This is where Bubba Wallace has truly aced his game.

Kenny Wallace recently discussed the aspects of the modern-day NASCAR fan on his YouTube channel. Reflecting on popular drivers in NASCAR at present, Kenny had this to say, “You know, about a month ago I said here’s the three most popular drivers. I said Bubba Wallace, Hailie Deegan, and Denny Hamlin. And of course, all of you went nuts. Here’s what people confuse with. People think that if you win races, that makes you famous. It ain’t. It’s not true. Especially with today’s social media, where you can see the driver.

Further reflecting on the kind of popularity Bubba Wallace has amongst NASCAR fans, Kenny Wallace talks about an incident during an interview he had with Wallace at the Trackside Live show. Kenny recalls, “When Bubba Wallace came in, we announced Bubba Wallace. And I mean, the people came in and they packed the area. There are pictures out there. So when Bubba Wallace came in, it was standing room only and everybody, like Bubba, was gonna say something unbelievable. Like he was going to say something they were going to get, him you know what I mean, or they were listening, they were listening. Well, when Bubba Wallace left, everybody dispersed to try to get his autograph. Nobody left but as Bubba Wallace got off the stage, everybody went around to each corner stage, ‘Bubba Bubba, sign my autograph.'”

The rationale behind Kenny Wallace naming Bubba Wallace amongst Hailie Deegan and Denny Hamlin comes with a sound reason. The 23XI ace racer has drawn parallels with the two racers during his career. Hailie Deegan has inscribed her name in history books like Bubba Wallace after becoming the first woman to win races in the ARCA Menards Series West. Denny Hamlin and Bubba Wallace have the public likeability factor in common. Both the racers carry the ability to be in the public talking points despite the ups and downs in their racing performances.

But unlike Denny Hamlin, the 2024 season’s disappointment continues for Bubba Wallace. The 30-year-old this time was on the receiving end of a multi-car crash while participating in the first playoff race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. It occurred during the ultimate moments of the race. The crash harmed the prospects of the likes of Ty Gibbs as well. Bubba Wallace’s teammate at the 23XI Racing, Tyler Reddick, too, was involved in a multi-car wreck at stage 2 of the race. While the incident may be insignificant for Bubba Wallace, it could mean the world for Tyler Reddick’s playoff prospects.

This was not the only unfortunate incident during Bubba Wallace’s season. Despite strong performances during the regular season, the No. 23 failed to qualify for the playoffs. His owner, 23XI Racing, had the unique opportunity for both of his cars to feature in the playoffs, but it could not happen.

The regular season disappointment

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It looked like Bubba Wallace had been knocking on the door of a win this season, but it never arrived. After a slow start from the No. 23, Wallace picked up the pace and started finishing at impressive spots in races. This includes a 4th place finish at the Cook Out 400 and a 6th place finish at the Daytona International Speedway towards the end of the season. Given his current form and rhythm, the odds of Bubba Wallace qualifying for the playoffs looked promising, as the 30-year-old was just 27 points behind the elimination line.

But call it a tryst of fate or his inability to perform when it mattered the most, Wallace couldn’t qualify for the playoffs. The disappointment reached its epitome for Bubba Wallace at the regular season finale. Wallace had the pole position at the Darlington Raceway and even had the podium position during the initial parts of the race. However, his grasp on the race loosened as the laps went by. Towards the end of the race, other drivers pushed him to the 16th place. The descent was enough to cost him a playoff spot.

Do you think Bubba Wallace will bounce back next season? Do tell us in the comments down below.