Bubba Wallace posts legendary tweet with Tyler Reddick after Austin Dillon’s controversial win in Richmond
Amidst the drama and chaos last night, Bubba Wallace was able to secure the final transfer spot for the NASCAR playoffs. Austin Dillon made it harder for him by securing a playoff spot with his win, but Wallace did what he had to do.
Entering the race, Bubba Wallace was seven points below the cutline. He left Richmond Raceway +3 points ahead of Chris Buescher and Ross Chastain. His last five races were perhaps his best of the season.
In Nashville he started with a 7th place, in Chicago he held his own and finished 13th, although he also put in a top 10 performance for most of the day. Pocono, 10th place. In Indianapolis Wallace finished 5th and on Sunday night in Richmond he finished 4th.
After the race, Bubba Wallace and his teammate Tyler Reddick took a great photo together. Reddick couldn’t believe what he saw. Wallace was just minding his own business.
23XI Racing has performed very well overall recently, with both cars finishing in the top ten in the last three races, and both in the top five at Indy and Richmond.
While Wallace is fighting for a playoff spot, Reddick is fighting for the regular season championship. Both got the points they needed over their opponents.
Reddick came to Richmond 15 points behind Kyle Larson and five points behind Chase Elliott. While Larson defended his lead during the regular season, Reddick is now in second place, five points behind. Elliott is one point behind Reddick in third place. Denny Hamlin is insidiously behind, 21 points behind with three races to go.
Bubba Wallace with historic playoff push
After the Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway, Bubba Wallace was just 51 points away from the cut line to make the playoffs. Since then, he has been on a tear, collecting points and closing a gap that, if it holds, would be the biggest playoff comeback of all time.
Being 51 points behind with seven races to go is a death sentence in most seasons. It’s no man’s land, you have to win to overcome it and make the playoffs. Wallace is already defying that wisdom.
In the four races since Nashville, Wallace has earned a total of 139 points. That’s an average of nearly 35 points per race. If that trend continues in the final three races at Michigan, Daytona and Darlington, the No. 23 car will likely make the NASCAR playoffs.
Last night, Bubba Wallace’s task became even more difficult. But he kept calm, continued to work tirelessly and is now in the process of making up a points deficit that no one thought possible.
