Despite Being 10+ Laps Down, Bubba Wallace Intended to Ruin Rival Kyle Larsons Vegas Outing
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Engines roared in delight as Kyle Larson, trailed closely by Tyler Reddick in second place, secured victory in the Pennzoil 400 in Las Vegas. But in the middle of the overwhelming excitement, an imminent storm was brewing in Team 23XI’s camp.
Bubba Wallace finishing a P35 was, however, swirled with the possibility of getting caught with an in-race penalty. Freddie Kraft’s cautionary advice averted potential chaos, steering clear of Bubba’s risky plan to generate a caution.
Freddie Kraft, Wallace’s trusted spotter and co-host on the ‘Door, Bumper, Clear’ podcast, hinted at a narrative that could have rocked the racing world. This revelation, involving Larson, Wallace, and Reddick, adds a layer of intrigue to the already intense and competitive world of NASCAR.
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Bubba’s Move could have Shattered Kyle Larson’s Path to Victory at Vegas
During the thrilling Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Freddie Kraft, the spotter for Bubba Wallace’s crew, revealed intriguing details about the tight fight between the winner Kyle Larson, and Tyler Reddick. In the podcast, Freddie acknowledged Larson’s strong performance and praised his authority on the track, saying, “I thought Larson, like Larson’s MO, has been dominating”. While observing Larson’s stellar speed, Kraft also recognized Reddick’s continuous pursuit, particularly towards the latter stages of the race. “And then, like, the end of every stage, Reddick would be there,” Kraft noted.
However, as the race unfolded, Kraft witnessed a pivotal moment that could have drastically altered the outcome. “I know the internet would have exploded,” said Freddie, reflecting on a possible tandem effort between Reddick and Wallace. Kraft recalled a strategic maneuver that nearly could have reshaped the race’s narrative. “We got the tandem with Reddick trying to push, which was kind of cool,” Kraft recounted, highlighting an attempt to utilize drafting to propel Reddick to the lead.
“It was working. We knew it was going to work when we tried it last year at, Kansas,” recalled Kraft. However, despite Wallace’s eagerness to repeat the move, Kraft exercised caution and strategic foresight. “Bubba wanted to do it again,” Kraft acknowledged. “Yeah, and then, Bubba was like, once the pace calls off, put tires on this thing. I’ll go back out there and do it again,” he added.
Wallace’s desire indicated his intention to execute the tandem push once more. Yet Kraft’s decision-making prevailed, prioritizing race strategy. “We don’t think we need to do that,” Kraft asserted, opting for a more calculated approach in light of Larson’s undeniable superiority and their team’s advantageous position.
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Kyle Larson’s authority in the Pennzoil 400 encouraged him to lead 181 laps and prevail, earning him 60 valuable points. This sent him to the top of the NASCAR Cup Series standings, where he now leads by eight points over Ryan Blaney. Meanwhile, Blaney’s strong P3 finish earned him 41 points, propelling him to second place.
Despite starting in pole position, Joey Logano‘s ninth-place finish left him with 30 points, placing him 24th overall. Byron‘s P10 finish granted him 29 points, securing fourth place in the standings with 103 points.
Cup pts (23 to go): Larson-1w, Byron-1w, Suarez-1w, Blaney +44, Truex +38, Chastain +32, Busch +29, Elliott +29, Gibbs +21, Hamlin +21, Cindric +20, Reddick +18, Bowman +16, Wallace +10, Jones +5, Nemechek +2, LaJoie -2, Stenhouse -4, Hemric -10, Briscoe -15 pic.twitter.com/qZ9nCEKN5U
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) March 4, 2024
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However, the race saw a downturn for Kyle Busch, the former points leader, who plummeted to sixth place following a disappointing P26 finish. Similarly, Bubba Wallace, once in the top 5, now sits 14th after gaining just 2 points from the race.
Following a high-stakes showdown, Bubba Wallace’s strategic move hinted at the intensity within the NASCAR world . While Larson emerged victorious, Wallace’s bold attempt could have added an electrifying twist to the race. As the standings will shift post-Pennzoil 400, fans eagerly look forward to the next chapter in this thrilling saga of speed and strategy.
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NASCAR World Lists 900+ Reasons to “Why Does Everyone Hate Bubba Wallace?”
Edited by:
Shreya Singh