Twists and turns were the main theme at Texas Motor Speedway. Michael Jordan owned 23XI Racing driver Bubba Wallace was one of the drivers who put on a solid display compared to the first elimination round of playoffs. The driver of the #23 Camry rose to the occasion, leading an incredible 111 laps in the race. Although that statistic resembles one of a race winner, sadly, that is not the case.

Bubba fumbled his lead to the Hendrick Motorsports driver and eventual winner William Byron, who made it to the round of 8. After losing out on a potential P1 finish, Bubba was drenched in guilt as he was spotted after the race. He took responsibility for his P3 finish, which could have been a tad better had things turned out differently.

Michael Jordan-owned 23XI Racing’s president cheers up Bubba

Even though racing in NASCAR can be coined as a team effort, it is up to the driver to deliver upon his pit crew’s hopes. This individualist aspect of racing can often act as a mental barrier for an athlete. After the race, Bubba Wallace felt that he had let his team owners, crew members, and fans down.

Bubba was on course to grab his third career win and what better time would have that arrived at? In desperate need of a win to seal a spot in the round of 8 and a statement win to silence the critics, the scenario now remains limited to what could have been.

23XI Racing team president Steve Lauletta however had a different approach about the result. Standing behind Bubba and applauding him for his heroic effort in a heart-pounding moment, he tweeted:

“I guarantee you @BubbaWallace did not let anyone @23XIRacing down after a strong start to the #NASCARPlayoffs Round of 12. Pole, 111 laps led, stages points, 3rd place finish! Nice to be disappointed with that as the type of driver and team we have #LetsGo #ForwardTogether.”

Bubba has been subject to a world of hate and criticism during his time in the Cup Series. While he has not shown the results to back up his hype, he has definitely tried his level best to improve throughout his career.

Qualifying for the playoffs for the first time in 2023 was his first milestone. To top it off, he secured a passage to the round of 12 as well, dismissing haters’ claims that he would falter at the first round itself. Lauletta’s words are a positive sign that indicates that what is important is to chin up and gear up for a better outcome in the next race.

Read More: “I’m Sorry”- Conceited Bubba Wallace Bites His Tongue as Michael Jordan’s Impressive Superstar Struggles to Dominate

Bubba Wallace was left sulking in grief after missing out on a P1 finish

At the end of stage 1, it was 23XI who were making headlines. With Bubba running strong, teammate Tyler Reddick edged out a stage win as well to give Michael Jordan a lot to expect.

However, ironically, Reddick’s crash was the one that snatched Bubba’s dominance away from a victory as it reset the field for a restart that hindered Bubba’s hopes. After the restart, #24, William Byron took advantage of it to complete his resurgence as he held on to a narrow lead. Byron’s teammate Kyle Larson also pushed Bubba back prior to spinning in an attempt to pass him.

Starting from the pole, Bubba had maximized his chances of winning before coming to the race. Alas, his vision didn’t materialize. Reflecting on what went wrong after a career-best performance in terms of laps led, he said, “Third time I fooled myself starting on top. These guys gave me the right information. 14 is tight and he sent it off in there. I wasn’t going to stick, but that’s what he’s got to do. We’re racing for a win and just hate it.”

Highlighting the disappointment that came with the expectations of a win, the 27-year-old added, “I should have kept my line in the three and forced William (Byron) to get tight. You’re still vulnerable in these cars, right? I’ve just upset myself. I really needed a win there. It’s a good showing. I don’t know where that puts us. I don’t care, but I know what I did … I choked!“

Well, after a narrow escape in the round of 16, it is encouraging to see that Bubba has prepared well for what’s coming next for him. If he keeps up the efforts and mentality, the results will come soon enough.

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