Just when things were going good for Bubba Wallace this season he hit a three-week skid that has put him in a tough position. Wallace was in the top-10 in the NASCAR points standings, now he’s out of the playoff picture.
Two DNFs and a lackluster P17 finish at Kansas last week have led Bubba Wallace to drop in the standings. Everything was going well. Three top-5 finishes and another top-10 finish in the first nine races of the year. Then, Talladega happened.
A DNF at Dega and Dover set Wallace and his team back. Add in the fact they couldn’t find any speed at Kansas, one of their best tracks, it has been a disappointing last few races.
Bubba Wallace spoke to Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports about his points situation. He is still ahead of where he was in years prior, so he’ll take it.
“I think we were 1000 points out at this point. So, I think now what, we’re two? … We just, our speed’s there,” Wallace said. “Last week we missed it. Look at us and the 45. We made our best track into one of our worst tracks. So, we had a lot of discussion about that, that’s behind us.
“The previous two weeks [before Kansas], just caught up in the wrong stuff at the wrong time. We just gotta keep it going. This is where we lit the wick last year at this point in the season. So, it’s time to do it again.”
Kansas, Darlington, and Charlotte were all top-5 finishes for Bubba Wallace a season ago. It is what largely propelled him into playoff contention. This season, the 23 team is banking on getting a win during the regular season, but if they must, they will point their way in.
Things aren’t going to be easy, though. There are a number of drivers vying for those last two or three spots on points every season. One random win can derail another driver’s season completely.
With drivers like Joey Logano having issues this season there is risk there as well. Logano could snag a win at any point, even if he’s struggling in points, and shake up the entire playoff picture.
During this stretch all the way down to the regular season finale at Darlington, that is where Bubba Wallace will make or break his season. Darlington, Charlotte, Gateway, Nashville, Pocono, Michigan, Daytona, and Darlington-2 are all races Wallace could win.
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