[autotag]Bubba Wallace[/autotag] finished Stage 1 in second place and appeared to have one of the best cars in the entire field at Kansas Speedway on Sunday afternoon. However, a tire issue led Wallace into the wall as he suffered a damaged toe link, which ended his chances of being competitive. The 23XI Racing driver finished in 32nd place while his teammate Tyler Reddick took the victory.
Instead of gaining a significant amount of points on the playoff cut-line, Wallace now goes to the final race of the Round of 16 with a 19-point deficit to the bubble. It is not impossible to make it on but it will certainly be difficult. Following the race, Wallace talked about his playoff-altering incident at Kansas.
Problems for Bubba Wallace! #NASCARPlayoffs
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— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 10, 2023
“I got loose like five laps before, but I realized that was kind of like my line, my approach at the exit of Turn 4, and then three or four laps later, it blew out, no indication going into Turn 1,” Wallace said. “So, I’m pissed at myself. I wasn’t close to the fence and maybe would have got by with less damage, but you’re never gonna get a flat tire or blow a tire when you’re running 20th. You’re gonna get it when you’re really fast and lights out versus the competition.”
Now, the driver of the No. 23 car must have a very strong day at Bristol, or his playoff hopes will come to an end. Thankfully for Wallace, the race track has produced several chaotic memories over the years so it is not out of the picture this time around.
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