NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace, racing for 23XI, produced an excellent performance in the Brickyard 400, held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, showing a significant increase in the standings of the 2024 season. Wallace, who finished 5th, not only won the first stage of the year, but also led 26 laps, improving his position in the race for the postseason.
Wallace’s race almost crashed due to lack of fuel in the final lap, as the race extended seven overtime laps beyond the scheduled 160, challenging the team’s fuel strategy. Despite these obstacles, Wallace’s finish improved, with him just 7 points from the 16th playoff spot, now held by rival Ross Chastain.
Reflecting on his performance and the skepticism he faced, Wallace commented, as reported by NASCAR.com:
“We thrive off counting us out. You thought we’d go out in the (first) round as well, last year, right? We didn’t do that either. Just keep fighting, prove y’all wrong.”
James Gilbert/Getty Images
Despite some struggles during the early sessions where teammate Tyler Reddick showed superiority, Wallace praised the team’s execution on race day.
“Exactly what we needed for two weeks here.
“Just a good day. I did a terrible job on Friday and Saturday, putting us and 45 (Reddick) as a class on the field. We were able to get some advantages to go in and just … call, and the time was right, I ran to get (flag) white and limped back, so yeah, good day.
Amid the competitive tension, Bootie Barker, crew chief for the number 23 car, highlighted the tactical approach needed to excel.
“We look at the points all the time, but the racing level of the car that we are racing, you have to finish well regardless. Yes, we look at everything.”
2024 Brickyard 400 Results
- Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
- Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing, Toyota)
- Ryan Blaney (Team Penske, Ford)
- Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
- Bubba Wallace (23XI Racing, Toyota)
- Todd Gilliland (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
- Austin Cindric (Team Penske, Ford)
- Daniel Suarez (Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet)
- Noah Gragson (Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford)
- Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
- Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. (JTG Daugherty Racing, Chevrolet)
- Carson Hocevar (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
- Austin Dillon (Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet)
- Corey LaJoie (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
- Ross Chastain (Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet)
- Michael McDowell (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
- Zane Smith (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
- Cody Ware (Rick Ware Racing, Ford)
- Ty Dillon (Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet)
- Justin Haley (Rick Ware Racing, Ford)
- Brad Keselowski (RFK Racing, Ford)
- Chris Buescher (RFK Racing, Ford)
- Ty Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
- Go after Briscoe (Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford)
- Kyle Busch (Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet)
- Ryan Preece (Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford)
- Martin Truex, Jr. (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
- Eric Jones (LEGASI MOTOR CLUB, Toyota)
- John Hunter Nemechek (LEGASI MOTOR CLUB, Toyota)
- Daniel Hemric (Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet)
- Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
- Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
- Jimmy Johnson (LEGASI MOTOR CLUB, Toyota)
- Joey Logano (Team Penske, Ford)
- Josh Berry (Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford)
- Harrison Burton (Wood Brothers Racing, Ford)
- AJ Allmendinger (Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet)
- William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
- BJ McLeod (MBM Motorsports, Ford)
Uncommon knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for a common field.
