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This weekend, the NASCAR paddock heads to the Kansas Speedway for the next race on the calendar. However, news broke that Stewart Friesen would be a bit delayed in making it to Kansas. This was because Friesen’s flight to Kansas was delayed several times and then cancelled altogether. Since he would not be able to make it in time for practice or qualifying, the team roped in Bubba Wallace.

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He said, “Soon as I landed, ‘Hey we need someone to drive the #52 truck, just practice and qualifying’. The racer in me is like, ‘Hell yeah!’, but its not that easy. We have appearances that we have to get through. You got to go through hoops and boundaries and all that stuff to clear, but I think we all got the okays. I was actually surprise how close the seat was. We didn’t even have to move the pedals or the wheel, so pretty good. He [Stewart Friesen] is way taller than me, but the way the truck cockpit is, I bet he’s crammed in there, where I’ll be all relaxed.”

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READ MORE: WATCH: Chase Elliott Loses It as Bubba Wallace Brings Out the “Wreck-Tangle”

What lies ahead for Bubba Wallace?

Honestly speaking, it is a little odd that Wallace can get to practice and qualify. Then on race day, he can hand over the truck to Friesen when he finally arrives at the speedway. However, it appears that things work out that way in NASCAR. Speaking of Friesen, his latest update said that he had reached Chicago on a connecting flight.

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Unfortunately, the flight to Kansas was late, owing to issues with his road vehicle. Naturally, he missed that flight, but has confirmed that he booked another flight. The bad news is that the prospect of him being on time from practice was definitely off the cards. So, Bubba Wallace will have to suit up in his stead and drive the truck. Beyond that, he will also have to be prepared for his Cup Series race with 23XI Racing.

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Dhruv George

14,854 Articles

Dhruv George is EssentiallySports’ foremost authority on motorsport and a founding member of the outlet’s NASCAR desk. A Journalism graduate fluent in English and French, he brings over eight years of motorsports journalism experience covering everything from high-octane NASCAR battles to the finesse of Formula 1 and MotoGP. His extensive paddock access has earned him exclusive interviews with top names such as F1’s Pierre Gasly and Moto2’s Tony Arbolino, cementing his reputation as a trusted voice among racing fans. Known for his candid opinions, Dhruv isn’t afraid to tackle contentious officiating calls, most recently defending Joey Logano after the DYL penalty in Phoenix. Before focusing on NASCAR as a Senior Writer, Dhruv contributed extensively to EssentiallySports’ coverage of F1 and NASCAR, building a versatile and impactful sports portfolio.

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