The current 2023 season has been a career high for Michael Jordan’s driver, Bubba Wallace. After a long hiatus in NASCAR’s top-tier division, Wallace advanced into the playoffs despite being in the sport for close to 6 years. After the Alabama native’s entry into the playoff 16, both of Denny Hamlin and Jordan’s drivers have secured a seat, something even the top teams of the sport failed to do.

However, with the playoff machine changing its gears, as we head to Charlotte for the 2nd eliminator, Wallace is staring down the barrel as he needs a massive turnaround win at the road course to advance further. Despite all this, the NBA great’s hometown highlighted their show of support, proclaiming and lauding the driver for his achievements.

Michael Jordan and his hometown give their approval hours ahead of Wallace’s highly anticipated eliminator race in Charlotte

Seeing one’s driver advance further into the tournament is a pleasurable sight for team owners. It is even more of a delight when one witnesses their struggling driver do so, in style. For Bubba Wallace of 23XI Racing 2023 did start the way he wanted. Back-to-back slumps and wrecks got the driver down, dejected and disappointed in himself.

But that is in the past now, the 29-year-old who struggled to even finish the race has pointed himself into the playoff with a smooth and brilliant strategy. Unlike his teammate, Tyler Reddick who conquered the Circuit of The Americas to blast his way into the playoff fray, Wallace solely relied on points. Picking up valuable stage points, Wallace for the first time in his career got into the playoffs.

Redeeming himself, and breaking out of his shell, it was a career-defining moment for the driver as well as for his boss, Michael Jordan. With hours remaining for the highly anticipated Charlotte Roval race, Jordan’s driver has earned another milestone as the City of Concord, North Carolina showed its appreciation for the driver’s achievements in a special ceremony.

Concord City Mayor, William C. Dusch along with the City Council of Concord proclaimed that the days of October 6 and October 8th as Bubba Wallace appreciation day, showing their support to the driver and applauding his achievements in the sport. Jordan’s hometown’s praise comes hours before the driver’s road race, which might as well be his final race given his dire position in the standings.

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Wallace and his precarious position

The mood was all celebratory when Bubba Wallace got into the playoffs. However, as we reach the 2nd eliminator, things are going the way the driver hoped they would. The speedway specialist lost a win in Kansas, one that would take him into the next round, finishing in the bottom 30s. The scene was pretty much the same at Texas Speedway, the closing laps of the race saw the driver give up his position while William Byron seized the opportunity to cut through the opening and rack a playoff win.

Wallace is well off the cutline at 10th with 3051 points coming off of 5 top-5 finishes. Whereas his 23XI Racing teammate Tyler Reddick is in the 9th spot. But given the nature of the track, Wallace’s chances of securing a win in Charlotte and advancing looks thin. On the other hand, Reddick who is known for his road racing prowess is more of a favorite to win the race, given the #45 Toyota’s consistency and the driver’s capabilities.

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Though Wallace’s chances are razor thin considering the tight and technical course in Roval, things could go either side if he could capitalize on the field’s error and point himself like he did earlier this season to make the playoffs.