Bubba Wallace, driver for 23XI Racing, spoke candidly with the media on Saturday before practice at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL. Addressing the aggressive competition and his recent on-track clash during the NASCAR Cup Series event, Wallace shared insights into the tensions and emotions surrounding the race. The focus on the Bubba Wallace Charlotte ROVAL event provided a backdrop for his reflections on respect, rivalry, and race dynamics.
Heartfelt Discussion with Denny Hamlin After Fierce Race Moment
Wallace revealed that he and Denny Hamlin recently had a candid 30-minute conversation aimed at resolving lingering tension from their battle on the track.
“It was a good, heart-to-heart conversation. It came from a place of peace. It went better than I thought it would. He shared his side of things, and I shared mine and we had common ground,”
Wallace explained. During their interaction, Wallace lightened the mood somewhat:
“I told him – and it was kind of funny – I kind of sent him on a detour when I said, you can go first, and then five seconds in I said, just so you know, I’m not mad about getting fenced going for the win.”
He acknowledged the competitive nature of their collision, emphasizing respect despite frustrations:
“That was two competitors going for a win, and so as much so as it didn’t work out, I have to respect that.”
Wallace highlighted the mixed reactions from others, noting,
“I think Dale (Earnhardt, Jr.) said it – I have every right to be pissed off about it.”
However, his primary disappointment stemmed not only from the personal outcome but from Toyota’s failure to win despite strong presence near the front.
Aftermath of the Race: Frustration Over Toyota’s Missed Victory
Wallace expressed his frustration about Toyota’s performance despite having several drivers in contention:
“Before I left my motorhome after the race, I texted the Toyota reps apologizing that we didn’t win. We had five in the top-five to take the green flag on the last restart, and none of us won.”
He described the disappointment as collective and emphasized his role as an advocate for the team and brand.
“That is where my frustration came from, because I felt like I was stepping up for them.”
Challenges of Balancing Owner and Driver Roles in Playoff Scenarios
When asked whether the pain arose from a lost chance to win or concerns about championship positioning, Wallace acknowledged the complex pressures he faces, both as a driver and a team owner.
“I’m not an owner and a driver. I don’t know what the thought process is. It is easy to sit there and Monday quarterback it, or in this case Saturday quarterback it,”
he noted. Wallace recognized the stakes involved, saying,
“It’s really good if I get 60 wins, and it is really good that I advance myself in the Playoffs, but man, it’s also really good if the car I own gets locked into the next round. There is a lot of money on the line – there is a lot of layers to all of that.”
Continuing, he emphasized the competitive mindset:
“Win and you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. That is what we’ve always done since we were kids – figure it out, and you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do to win races. Some are more respectful than others, and you’ve just got to deal with it.”
Maintaining Team Focus Amid Pressure and Disappointment
Wallace addressed the atmosphere within his team following the setbacks, stressing their commitment to focus on upcoming challenges.
“None of us have – and this can be, I don’t want to say naive to the fact – but we don’t go there and talk about December 1st. It is our jobs; it is our livelihoods to give it everything we’ve got for the race that is ahead of us,”
he said. Wallace acknowledged the weight of the situation but remained steadfast in his leadership approach:
“I’ve got five races left to go out and fight for a championship, and I set that tone from the beginning of the year. We’ve got to work our tails off to make it count each and every week.”
Despite the emotional lows, he encouraged his team to keep their perspective:
“It is a new weekend. Fresh opportunity in front of us. It is time to go focus on that.”
Avoiding Distractions: Steering Clear of Legal and Off-Track Issues
When asked about ongoing legal matters related to the racing scene, Wallace made it clear that his concentration remains on the track.
“I don’t. I focus on the things that I can control and let everything else sit on the background. Didn’t even know anything went on last night, so that just shows you, I guess, how out of tune I am, but focused, for me, on the more important things.”
The Nuances of On-Track Incidents and Drivers’ Intentions
Wallace clarified his actions during a critical in-race event involving Christopher Bell, emphasizing the difference between aggressive racing and causing harm.
“You turn left, and you go from the bottom. Simple as that. A lot of people want to relate that move to my move to CBell (Christopher Bell). CBell got to see the other side of the corner, and I was on the bottom to start the corner and drifted up. That was the thing.”
He detailed how he communicated with Bell after the race:
“I texted CBell after the race and said my full intentions were to make you lift, not put you in the fence, and I apologized for that. He took it, I guess, as best as he could, but I reached out immediately because I saw the replay after the fact, and was like damn, I did not want that.”
This moment highlighted the fine line drivers walk between competitive aggression and respect for fellow racers.
Growth and Evolution: How Wallace and His Team Have Improved
Reflecting on his progress over the past year, Wallace pointed to a change in mindset that has helped elevate both his performance and enjoyment on the track.
“I’ve joked around since Indy that I don’t care, and for the longest time I was always racing for job security, no matter how long you are signed,”
he explained. After a difficult start at COTA, Wallace found racing with a refreshed mindset at Indianapolis to be pivotal:
“I needed to be replaced because I was always just chasing the results and wasn’t living up to expectations for self, and I’m sure the expectations for the team.”
He credited Indy with helping him rediscover the passion of racing:
“I raced because I loved it. I think that has been the biggest shift. Everyone just supporting that and showing up and having fun. It has been fun being on the race track.”
Wallace further debunked misconceptions about his effort, sharing,
“Everybody has told me that the start of Kansas last Sunday – they like to say I give up, I never give up, so that is BS when you hear that, but the outcome would have been different. Bubba Wallace wouldn’t be fighting for the win a year ago if his Kansas race started out like that.”
Addressing Public Reactions and Media Commentary After the Race
Wallace acknowledged the complexity added by public and social media responses, especially those from Denny Hamlin following their clash.
“Yeah, you kind of hit it right there on the head. It was just the way it was kind of handled behind the scenes just kept going, kept adding fuel to the fire and I hate that it got to that point,”
he said. Wallace shared how he confronted Hamlin directly, leading to mutual understanding.
“I expressed my displeasure to Denny today, and he totally respected that.”
He elaborated on the importance of resolving lingering tensions to maintain focus:
“What you need from your driver is to be at 110 percent focused on what to do, how to execute, and how to go out there and beat SVG (Shane van Gisbergen) – I had a dark cloud over my mind all week long, man, it’s not fair to my team.”
Wallace concluded that the conversation allowed both parties to gain perspective:
“The conversation went better than expected and you feel lighter on your feet. There is a transition period that you have to go through, and it sucks that it is happening on Saturday.”
