NASCAR: Will Bubba Wallace be back for the 2022 season?
By Asher Fair
Bubba Wallace has missed all of the NASCAR Cup Series tests so far this offseason, but will he return in time for the start of the 2022 season?
Another NASCAR Cup Series Next Gen car test took place at Daytona International Speedway on Tuesday, January 11 and Wednesday, January 12.
This test followed two tests that took place at the Charlotte Motor Speedway oval earlier in the offseason, one in November and another one in December.
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However, 23XI Racing driver Bubba Wallace did not participate in any of them.
The Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan-owned team’s only on-track representative for these three tests was Kurt Busch, who was signed to drive the team’s newly added second car, the #45 Toyota, for the 2022 season after a three-year run with Chip Ganassi Racing. The team only ran one car, the #23 Toyota, for Wallace in their first season in 2021.
Checked in with teams for this tentative list of testing for Daytona on Tue-Wed (tbd on any streaming). Includes charter teams and teams committed to test or the 500. Would expect a few more open teams for the 500 but those still uncertain b/c sponsorship/getting cars ready. pic.twitter.com/vxKwXmuTDv
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) January 7, 2022
The reason why Wallace missed these three tests was because of a shoulder surgery he had shortly after the 2021 season came to an end at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, November 7.
“I had a torn labrum and a bone spur that needed to be taken care of, we’re guessing from wear and tear because I’ve never had anything traumatic happen to my shoulder,” he said in a recent interview.
As he continues to recover to prepare for the 2022 season, it’s best for him not to get behind the wheel quite yet.
Bubba Wallace indicated last month that recovery from the shoulder surgery would keep him out for the test next week. https://t.co/pMiIH611Lq
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) January 7, 2022
The bigger question is this: will he be back in time for the start of the 2022 season?
The season is unofficially scheduled to begin with the Busch Light Clash exhibition race on Sunday, February 6 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The official start of the season is set for Sunday, February 20 with the 64th annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.
“I am sore at the moment. I’m in current rehab situation. So things are definitely different, but all is good. I’m on track and I’ll be ready to roll when the season comes around next year,” the 28-year-old Mobile, Alabama native added in the same interview.
All in all, having this surgery right after the 2021 season appears to be a wise move for Wallace considering the timetable for his recovery.
In fact, Hamlin himself underwent shoulder surgery right after the 2019 season ended. Not only was he back in time for the 2020 season, but he won the season-opening Daytona 500 for the second year in a row and third time overall.
Hamlin did the same thing for knee surgery after the 2015 season. He didn’t miss time on this occasion either, and he won the 2016 season-opening Daytona 500 as well.
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In the meantime, Phoenix Raceway is scheduled to host the next test on Tuesday, January 25 and Wednesday, January 26 at Phoenix Raceway. This test, which is set to replace the test that was initially scheduled to take place at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, had initially been scheduled to take place on Tuesday, December 14 and Wednesday, December 15. Will Wallace participate? We’ll have to wait and see.