Bubba Wallace delivered one of the most impressive comebacks in the Iowa Corn 350, finishing sixth despite falling two laps behind during the third stage. This strong recovery demonstrated his skill and determination during a race characterized by numerous early cautions that kept the field tightly packed.
Thanks to several early caution periods in the third stage, nearly all drivers stayed on the lead lap, allowing Wallace to regain one lap through the free pass rule. From there, he steadily clawed his way back toward the front, turning what seemed like a lost cause into an extraordinary run.
Recovering Lost Laps and Moving Forward
Wallace’s spotter Freddie Kraft provided insight into the chaotic nature of the race, noting that few competitors dropped out despite the frequent cautions.
“It was a race nobody fell out of,”
Kraft said on the Door Bumper Clear podcast.
“For all the cautions there were, everybody finished the race I think. Like everybody was still out there.”
Wallace himself acknowledged the setback after losing two laps while repairing the car’s toe link.
“I looked at it, we lost a lap… well we lost two laps fixing the toe link. And I looked down and go, ‘Holy sh*t, we’re last.’ We were like 35th out of 37, something like that. ‘Damnit, everybody else is still out here.’”
Despite this daunting position, Wallace focused on driving hard to make up ground. Once he returned to the lead lap, he quickly passed slower cars and began the steady climb through the field during what Kraft described as a long final run of approximately 60 laps.
Strategic Progression Through the Field
Kraft reflected on the evolving strategy and what seemed possible during the comeback.
“I looked up one time and I was like, you kind of look ahead, see where you can get to,”
he said.
“And that last run was like 60 laps maybe. I said, ‘I think we can get to 15th.’ I said, ‘We’re f coming. We can drive to 15th.’ And then we got to 15th and I said, ‘Holy sh*t, there’s still 30 to go. We can drive to 10th maybe.’ And then we get to 10th, I go, ‘We might get to top 5.’”
This gradual advancement culminated in Wallace securing a sixth-place finish, which was especially impressive given the minimal tire fall-off during the race. The stable track conditions made overtaking difficult, highlighting the significance of his driving performance.
The Role of Car Handling and Team Communication
Kraft praised Wallace’s ability to adapt the car’s handling throughout the race.
“Bubba all day, Bubba being Bubba he’s like, ‘If you just tighten this thing up we’re going to be really good,’”
Kraft shared.
“So then of course he does that and he goes, ‘I told you motherf****** if you just tighten this thing up we’re going to be able to do this.’ But no, it was a phenomenal finish for us.”
The improvement in car balance allowed Wallace to capitalize on his momentum and maintain his position against strong competitors.
Impact on Standings and Playoff Implications
The drive had positive consequences beyond the race finish. Kraft emphasized the significance in the championship points scenario, particularly in relation to regular season standings.
“Just piggyback what we did, we leapfrogged (Chris) Buescher, which if you’re not paying attention to the standings that’s a point,”
Kraft explained.
“We jumped him for 10th in the regular season standings, which the 10th place guy gets a point in the playoffs. So it’s a big deal for us. I mean it looked effortless. The car was so good at the end of the race.”
This result enhances Wallace’s standing in the playoff battle, underscoring the importance of his Iowa race recovery for his team’s prospects moving forward.
