With the wildcard tango rolling out on the 2.5-mile-long tri-oval track of Daytona, all has been done and dusted. Chris Buescher secured his third win in the last five races and marked a great day for RFK Racing. However, for many, the main agenda of this race was to secure their place in the playoff berth or to make it in by a narrow margin.
Bubba Wallace was in a precarious situation before Saturday’s race. One new winner could have proven to be detrimental to the 23XI Racing driver. However, through sheer perseverance, the 29-year-old Speedster clinched the last playoff spot and now, he pinpoints all his focus on Darlington Speedway.
Behind every successful man, there is a woman
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Bubba Wallace was so overwhelmed with emotions that he forgot to show any. After the race was over, he spoke to NBC Sports and admitted that, although it was extremely stressful for him, he did not lose focus.
The 2023 season has been an emotional rollercoaster ride for the number 23 Toyota team and also for Bubba. Securing a spot in the playoffs goes a long way to determining your future with the sponsors and, ultimately, the team. So Bubba was indeed shouldering a lot himself, and rightfully so. He said, “That was the most stressed, but also the most locked in I’ve ever been.” After giving special mention to his spotter Freddie Kraft for helping him maneuver through the vicious wreck involving Ryan Preece, Bubba went on to talk about the one he most wanted to.
“My wife, she puts up with me during the stressful times … I just totally wasn’t myself so, sorry babe,” he said, with deep emotional undertones.
“I was just focused on trying to get us in and pay for the house you want,” he added merrily.
"That was the most stressed, but also the most locked in I've ever been."@BubbaWallace earns his spot in the #NASCARPlayoffs for the first time in his career after a high-pressure night at @DAYTONA #NASCAR #CokeZeroSugar400 pic.twitter.com/JYlYlEXph7
— NASCAR on TSN (@NASCARonTSN) August 27, 2023
Bubba was so drained out that he forgot to express how excited he was feeling after bagging the 16th spot in the playoff battle. He smiled, saying, “I’m kind of pissed I’m not super excited, but at the same time I just was throwing myself to the ringer.”
Bubba Wallace went on saying, “My wife started to [say], what’s going on? I’m just stressed you know, and then she starts to worry that it’s her and it’s not. I’m so focused on Darlington now …so relieved.”
But Amanda stuck strongly by Bubba’s side. Wallace recalled waking up in the middle of the sleepless night before Coke Zero Sugar 400. However, all’s well that ends well. Bubba got his share of congratulations from his bosses, Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, and also from countless fans online.
Watch this story: Bubba Wallace?s Spotter Uses Historic Charlotte Wreck Reference to Claim Chase Elliott Could Have Killed Denny Hamlin
Fans rained good wishes on Bubba Wallace
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For the first time in his career, Bubba Wallace is in the playoffs. So it is a huge achievement for the African-American driver. While the thoughts of a new winner had bugged him all along, the end played out well. While coming back from the track after the race, Bubba spoke to his fans and cried out, “Babe! We’re locked in!”
Amanda looked at the camera and shouted at the top of her voice, “Woohooo! That’s right!”
Playoff bound has a nice ring to it😤 pic.twitter.com/BxnOWR2Z8y
— Bubba Wallace (@BubbaWallace) August 27, 2023
Fans did not hold back on celebrating with Bubba Wallace either.
A fan said, “Very good work. Keep grinding, finish the job.”
Another one exclaimed, “Congrats, it?s been a long time coming!! Take that experience from driving the 45 car in the playoffs last year and keep on advancing! ???”
A motorsport enthusiast posted an old picture of Wallace back from his days at Revolution Racing and said, “I believed in you back then and still do. Go get em!”
“I?m so proud of you Bubba. First time in playoffs, I?m so happy for the entire 23 team, LETS GO BUBBA!!!,” said another.
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The #23 car is finally in the playoff’23. On that note, someone commented, “Greatest of all time ? go get that ring ? 23 in 23”
What does the man himself say about all of these? He said, “Playoff battle for the 23 team so proud of the efforts. What a stressful week it’s been!”
Bubba Wallace said that Sunday was going to be an off day and that he would be back to work on Monday.
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“Darlington is coming up…so let’s get after it!”, he said.