Bubba Wallace encountered an unexpected obstacle at Pocono Raceway when his No. 23 Toyota failed to start during qualifying, preventing him from recording a single lap. The issue occurred as Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin secured the pole position at the track where he holds the most wins, leaving Wallace sidelined and unable to compete for a front-row spot.
Wallace’s crew worked urgently to bump-start the car, but their attempts did not succeed in time. As the clock counted down, Wallace remained stranded inside the car, forced to accept a starting position at the rear of the field. Unlike Wallace, A.J. Allmendinger and Todd Gilliland managed to participate but posted the slowest times after aborting their runs due to tricky conditions on the track.
Track History Favors Wallace Despite Setback
Pocono Raceway, often called the Tricky Triangle, has usually been a strong venue for Wallace. In his previous four appearances, he achieved three top-10 finishes, including a top-five placement before the introduction of the Next Gen car. Since joining 23XI Racing in 2021, he has never finished worse than 14th at this circuit. Furthermore, Toyota’s dominance at Pocono in recent years had positioned Wallace for a competitive outing until mechanical troubles intervened.
Denny Hamlin Encourages Optimism Despite Mechanical Failure
Denny Hamlin, who also owns 23XI Racing, advised Wallace to keep focus and not let the qualifying misfortune derail his weekend. Hamlin explained that such setbacks are beyond the driver’s control and part of the unpredictable nature of racing.
“I’m confident it’s not something the team did; it’s just one of those mechanical things where the anvil fell on your [head] this time. It happens to others as well. It’s very easy for drivers and teams to get down about their bad luck, but everyone has it, and usually washes itself out over time.”
—Denny Hamlin, Team Owner
Hamlin also expressed his belief in the car’s overall pace and playoff potential, highlighting that the upcoming races will be crucial for the team’s chances.
“I think they are running fast enough to be a playoff car, and a lot of that is going to depend on who jumps up on the wild card races over the next 10 weeks, but I feel confident the 23 team will be a part of it.”
—Denny Hamlin, Team Owner
Possibility to Recover Despite Starting From the Back
Despite the hurdle of starting at the rear, Wallace’s recent performances suggest a strong chance to rebound. Ross Chastain demonstrated earlier this season at Charlotte Motor Speedway that starting last need not prevent a victory, as he made a stunning charge from 40th to first in the Coca-Cola 600. Wallace, currently 10th in the standings with 411 points, has achieved three top-five finishes and six top-10 placements through 16 races, indicating resilience and consistency.
Though the setback at Pocono is frustrating, the overall season outlook remains positive. Wallace’s ability to climb through the field could keep his playoff hopes alive as the weeks progress, making this weekend a pivotal opportunity to salvage points and momentum.
