NASCAR: 5 drivers who could be next to play spoiler
By Bryce Turner
NASCAR drivers who could play spoiler: No. 2 – Bubba Wallace
Bubba Wallace is a non-playoff driver who has come close to victory a couple of times this season. He finished in second place in the Daytona 500 for the second time in his career, and he built up some momentum throughout the summer months.
Wallace had four straight top eight finishes between the races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday, July 17 and Michigan International Speedway on Sunday, August 7. He started on the pole and finished in second place at Michigan, while also recording finishes of third, fifth, and eighth during that stretch.
The regular driver of the #23 Toyota for 23XI Racing has switched rides for the playoffs, taking over a #45 Toyota which is still in the running for the owner championship thanks to a win by Kurt Busch at Kansas Speedway earlier this season. Busch remains sidelined with concussion-like symptoms, with Ty Gibbs still serving as his replacement.
Wallace finished in ninth place at Darlington Raceway and his new ride could give him an extra boost as the #45 team tries to advance in the owner playoffs. His only Cup Series win came at Talladega Superspeedway last October, so that race in particular is one to watch, given his success on superspeedways.