Had Bubba Wallace come to terms with impending playoff doom prior to the Roval? The Michael Jordan prodigy was 9 points below the cut line before the elimination race in Charlotte. Although his teammate Tyler Reddick had a more reassuring track record, it was assumed that Wallace would be just as fiercely competitive to qualify for the next round.

However, despite securing crucial points with a runner-up finish in Stage 1, the radio conversation between Jordan‘s #23 team regarding Brad Keselowski had an underlying resignation enlaced within it.

Did Michael Jordan’s driver anticipate elimination mid-race at the Charlotte Roval?

Bubba Wallace defied expectations when he restrained Daniel Suarez and Ty Gibbs to confirm the 16th spot in the playoff standings. But whereas Tyler Reddick qualified through his Kansas victory, Wallace scrambled for sufficient points to remain in the next round. And it only got more challenging for the #23 driver. He couldn’t capitalize on his pole position at the Texas Motor Speedway, nor could he accumulate stage points in Talladega. This predicament made a superior performance essential for Bubba at the Bank of America Roval 400 last weekend.

Unfortunately, Wallace only has an average finish of 19.7 on the Charlotte Roval. On the other hand, Michael Jordan’s #45 Camry driver Tyler Reddick has the best track record among the playoff contenders with 7.0. Although both of them were below the cut-off line, Reddick’s qualification was considered more likely. Despite that, Bubba Wallace drove with renewed determination to recover his lagging score. At least in the beginning.

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When Wallace finished second behind Tyler Reddick at the end of the first stage, he created the possibility of spearheading his way into the Round of 8 with this aggressive performance. But as the race progressed, that drive slowly depleted. The #23 driver finished 7th at the end of Stage 2 and lost his earlier momentum in the final stage. It was particularly evident in his radio exchange with crew chief Bootie Barker.

When Barker attempted to inform Wallace about his relative standing to Brad Keselowski’s #17 driver Chris Buescher, Wallace seemed to have reconciled with the disappointing situation. Barker was heard on the radio announcing, “We’re about 8 points behind the #17″. To which Bubba Wallace responded, “I don’t need to know that anymore. Whatever happens, happens”. 

Watch this story: Bubba Wallace’s Dream Run Ends in Disappointment

His thoughts after the dejected outcome carried a bittersweet combination of celebratory consolation. 

Bubba Wallace is turning a new leaf in his new decade at the Charlotte Motor Speedway

In the end, his 16th-place finish eliminated him from the playoffs. With their Top 10 finishes, both Tyler Reddick and Chris Buescher secured their spots in the penultimate round of this championship race. The cruel irony of the playoff format leads to upcoming races for Bubba at Las Vegas, Homestead, and Martinsville. He will now compete as a non-playoff racer on his favored tracks. 

Perhaps Wallace felt the effort was futile toward the tail end of the race. Maybe he did not wish to be distracted by point differences in the middle of the race. Or since his 30th birthday coincided with the Roval race, turning over a new decade granted him the wisdom of acceptance. After the race, he posted a thoughtful message on his social media page.

Bubba Wallace was out of the playoffs. He was also a year older. But most importantly, he learned that merely the effort was in his control, not the outcome. Wallace would take this forward in the next season, where all his fans would await his playoff performances once again.

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