In the opening race of the Round of 12 at New Hampshire, while Team Penske showcased strength, 23XI Racing drivers faced tough outings. Tyler Reddick ended 21st and Bubba Wallace 26th, both sitting at the end of the playoff pack now. Heading into Kansas Speedway for the second race of the round, the team, especially Wallace, needs a massive turnaround to stay alive.

Wallace, who has voiced the need to rediscover form, noted, “Kansas— We’ve got to find our mojo back there.” His average finish sits at 24.75 over the last four visits to the 1.5-mile track. Yet, a strong qualifying effort placed him seventh on the grid, offering a solid starting point. With this setup, and amidst this crunch, his pre-race thoughts reveal the mindset driving his push forward.

Bubba Wallace on Kansas hopes amid playoff crunch

In a recent appearance on the Frontstretch X post, Bubba Wallace addressed the frustrations of recent races at Kansas Speedway, where 23XI Racing once dominated but has slipped. He reflected on the team’s shift, saying, “Yeah, we all know it. So like I said, after the post-race, I was excited to see the efforts. See how they show up today and even tomorrow for sure. But yeah, it’s just kind of a head-scratcher. I mean, you’re always evolving; the cars are always changing.”

“There’s no reason why we can’t get back to victory lane here (at Kansas) and get back to the stress-free environment we had the first round.”@BubbaWallace looking to rebound at Kansas. #NASCAR

Presenting Partner: @MyPlaceHotels pic.twitter.com/HrMrUSI8yB

— Frontstretch (@Frontstretch) September 27, 2025

This comes after Wallace’s 2022 fall victory at the track, leading 67 laps in his No. 45 Toyota, marking his second Cup win and highlighting the team’s early Next Gen success. Since then, his finishes have varied: 10th and first in 2022, fourth and 32nd in 2023, 17th twice in 2024, and 33rd in the 2025 spring race, showing the challenge of maintaining that edge amid evolving competition.

The pressure intensified after New Hampshire, where both 23XI cars finished outside the top 20, dropping them to a near must-win territory to advance. Wallace eyes Kansas glory because of his past triumphs there, including that 2022 win that boosted his playoff run, and the track’s history favoring Toyota with three victories in the last seven events.

He added, “There’s no reason why we can’t get back to victory lane here. And get back to the stress-free environment that we had the first round.” A strong showing, like a top-five or win, could erase his 27-point deficit and lock him into the Round of 8, easing the path forward, while a poor result might force reliance on chaos at the Charlotte Roval with very razor-thin chances to survive.

For the team overall, a good Kansas race keeps playoff hopes alive for both drivers, potentially flipping the script on their current deficits and building momentum. Wallace emphasized capitalizing on others’ slips, stating, “You gotta capitalize on other’s mistakes. And there’s opportunities that are kind of in there in front of you; you need to pounce on them.”

If both score solid points, 23XI avoids early elimination; a bad day, however, could end their championship bids prematurely, given the tight field where even consistent runs might not suffice without wins. While Wallace focuses on immediate recovery, other drivers lurk as potential surprises in the title chase.

These underdogs bring their own strengths, making the playoffs unpredictable.

Championship dark horses to watch

Ross Chastain stands out as a long shot with real potential, sitting 12 points below the Round of 8 cut line after the Round of 12 opener. Chastain’s case builds on his 2024 Kansas win, even as a non-playoff driver then, and his 2022 runner-up finish in the championship, showing he can surge in key moments despite starting this round from behind.

Austin Cindric, 19 points short, offers another intriguing option with Team Penske’s resources behind him. His playoff entry via a regular-season win positions him for upsets, and his affiliation with a powerhouse like Penske adds credibility to a deep run if he closes the gap.

Tyler Reddick rounds out the group, 23 points back, but with a Kansas victory in his record. Despite recent struggles at the track for 23XI, his past success there and the chaotic Roval ahead make him a threat, especially if he capitalizes on the must-win vibe to advance.