Kevin Harvick shared his worries about Bubba Wallace and the No. 23 Toyota team’s performance during a recent episode of Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour. After a strong start to the season, Wallace’s team has faced significant challenges in recent weeks, struggling to regain their early momentum in the NASCAR Cup Series. This slump has left the team uncertain about their path forward amid intense competition.
Harvick reflected on the surprising trajectory of Wallace’s season, saying,
“I think the thing that’s surprised me about Bubba is just how well they started the season. Like, ‘Oh my gosh, this No. 23 team is going to be on fire,’ and the wheels have just fallen off of the No. 23 car,”
referring directly to Wallace’s sudden decline. Harvick highlighted issues with speed and consistency, pointing to Wallace’s troubles in qualifying at Chicago and a costly mistake in the race involving the No. 48 car that resulted in lost points.
He also mentioned the broader performance problems affecting 23XI Racing, noting,
“It’s just been really, really all over the place, for not only the No. 23, but the No. 45. The No. 45 hasn’t done anything that we expected him to do, from a speed standpoint, race standpoint. They’ve been off. We talk about the lawsuit and things like that, but they’ve just been off, compared to where the No. 23 started, and the No. 45 never even had that shining moment yet.”
Bubba Wallace’s Playoff Position Remains Precarious
Currently, Bubba Wallace hangs by a slim margin in the NASCAR playoff standings, sitting just three points above the cutoff line. This narrow lead offers little security, especially with challenging tracks like Dover International Speedway coming up soon. While Dover is considered one of Wallace’s better tracks, the risk of losing playoff positioning is high if he doesn’t find stronger results.
Maintaining his playoff spot will be vital, but Wallace’s performance inconsistency raises questions about his ability to advance in the postseason. With unpredictable events on the horizon, his status in the Round of 16 remains vulnerable to shifts in the leaderboard, including potential victories from drivers below him in the standings.
The Challenge of Securing a Win Amid Ongoing Struggles
Winning a race would provide the clearest path forward for Wallace, but achieving that has been difficult in recent seasons. His inability to secure a victory has already derailed playoff chances in the past, and expectations for this year are higher than ever. Falling short again would be a major setback for Wallace and 23XI Racing alike.
Harvick also noted that Wallace’s teammate, Tyler Reddick, who claimed the 2024 regular season championship and reached the Championship 4, has had a quieter start to 2025 with no wins so far this season. Both drivers’ underwhelming form has led to speculation about the impact of the ongoing lawsuit involving NASCAR on the team’s overall performance.
Pressure Mounts on Bubba Wallace Moving Forward
As the NASCAR Cup Series progresses through the summer, all eyes will remain on Bubba Wallace to see if he can regain his competitive edge. Returning to Victory Lane would be a pivotal moment to restore momentum and confidence for Wallace and his team. Conversely, continued struggles would likely intensify questions about his future with 23XI Racing and his ability to meet rising expectations.
The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether Wallace can reverse his downward trend or if his season’s challenges will deepen, placing added pressure on both the driver and the team as the playoffs advance.
