In 23XI’s brief history in the sport, this season stands out as their best, particularly for Bubba Wallace. As the regular season reached its climax in Daytona, Wallace clawed his way into the playoffs, securing the last spot and making his maiden entry into the Cup Series playoffs, stealing the show in the process. Now, as the crowd gathers in Arizona for the Championship 4 finale, Wallace, though out of the championship hunt, remains a headline-maker. Recent developments in the 23XI garage have bolstered his position, with a ‘star-studded’ backup team, and it seems like the “force” is with him.

Anticipation is building as the Phoenix showdown looms large, and Bubba Wallace is all set to set the track ablaze this weekend. If you thought the Wallace and McDonald’s paint scheme couldn’t be topped, well, they’re here to prove you wrong.

Will Bubba Wallace’s new sleek livery at the Phoenix Showdown come in clutch with its force?

23XI Racing has always been known for its daring and bold looks on the track, whether it’s their fiery livery or their sleek race suits. Collaborating with their sportswear sponsor, Columbia, the No. 23 Toyota is about to storm the Phoenix oval bearing the “X-Wing” livery. This eye-catching design is a special collaboration inspired by the iconic Star Wars character Luke Skywalker, played by none other than Mark Hamill himself.

Not able to contain his excitement over the whole ordeal, Wallace remarked, “My boss is MJ, so…” referring to NBA superstar and 23XI co-owner, Michael Jordan. “When he [Hamill] did say, ‘May the force be with you always,’ now that was pretty cool. I’ve heard that line from everybody and their mother, but when he says it, that’s pretty special.”

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With such strong backing from the likes of Jordan and now Mark Hamill, the Alabama native is ready to finish the season at an all-time high. He’s already notched an impressive nine top-10 finishes, equaled his personal record with five top-five showings, and clinched his second career pole position during the fall race in Texas. Yet, despite his stellar season, Wallace has struggled at Phoenix. In 11 starts there, he has only managed a sole top-10 finish.

Bubba Wallace isn’t the only Cup driver who has a craze for Star Wars. A certain Championship 4 contender is eyeing a particular piece of racing item.

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Galactic trophy feud and Wallace’s helmet holdout

The championship race is heating up, and while Wallace is making waves as a non-championship contender, his best buddy, Ryan Blaney, is chasing the title with all his might. Blaney, known for his love of Star Wars, has his sights set on a unique trophy—Wallace’s Star Wars-themed helmet. “I’m trying to get him to trade me that helmet,” said Blaney.

Blaney openly expressed his desire to trade helmets with his friend, but Wallace revealed that it’s not as simple as it sounds. The helmet is off-limits for trading. “Columbia put their foot down on that one, I’m not even getting it,” Wallace said. Wallace’s firm stance softened slightly as he jokingly remarked that if Blaney wins the championship, he might consider handing it over, “I’ll give it to him. Maybe.”

Wallace’s ad with the Star Wars star has left Blaney green with envy, “I’m jealous he got to meet him [Hamill].” Despite the banter, there was an exception to the “no helmet trading” rule, however. Wallace couldn’t resist throwing a friendly jab at Blaney, labeling his helmet designs as “boring.” “I think the only one that I would probably trade with is Lewis (Hamilton). That would be pretty cool to have one of his. No offense to Barney … but his (helmets) are boring.” Now, post the finale, we will know if the “force” was truly with him.

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