Bubba Wallace, the 23XI Racing driver, shared a funny story about a qualifying agreement he made with Shane van Gisbergen and Scott McLaughlin during the Charlotte Motor Speedway Cook Out Summer Shootout. The pact involved a lighthearted rule where the slowest qualifier among them would pay for lunch.
Wallace, known for driving the #23 Toyota Camry XSE, began his NASCAR Cup Series career in 2017 with Richard Petty Racing, initially competing in four events and finishing in the top 20 three times. After securing a full-time role, he spent three years with that team before moving to 23XI Racing in 2021. Since joining, Wallace has earned two career wins, 25 top-five finishes, 52 top-ten results, and three pole positions over 273 starts.
Details of the Qualifying Lunch Bet Among Drivers
In his recent vlog, Wallace explained that the rule to buy lunch was introduced in the third week of competition by Shane van Gisbergen and Scott McLaughlin. After Wallace had a poor qualifying run, his teammates celebrated the prospect of a free meal at his expense. Since then, this pact has been a recurring challenge during qualifying sessions. He remarked,
“Scotty and SVG came up with this rule on week three. I had a terrible qualifying run. And I get back in and they’re like cheering like, ‘Yeah, free lunch. Where are we going?’ I’m like, ‘What?’ So now that’s been the thing for the last 3 weeks. So whoever’s the slowest in qualifying has to pay for everybody’s lunch.” —Bubba Wallace, NASCAR driver
Wallace also shared the current standings in this friendly competition, noting that Shane van Gisbergen has been the slowest twice, while Scott McLaughlin has had one slow qualifying performance.
Bubba Wallace Opens Up About Pressure from Teammate Tyler Reddick’s Success
Earlier in the 2025 season, Wallace appeared on Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour podcast where he spoke candidly about feeling the weight of competition due to Tyler Reddick‘s strong performances. The Mobile, Alabama native expressed a personal drive to improve, admitting he had to motivate himself to raise his level without external prompting.
“Seeing the success of the 45, not from a jealousy standpoint, but it’s like ‘I have the same stuff,’ and I feel like I’m just as competitive as Tyler. I put all that weight on me, that pressure on me. So, I’m back in the gym, and nobody’s telling me, ‘Hey, you need to work out to run better; you need to be in more meetings to understand better.’ I took that upon myself as, like, ‘I’m doing just enough to get by, and that’s not okay.” —Bubba Wallace, NASCAR driver
Currently, Wallace holds 428 points in the Cup Series, placing him 13th in the standings. In comparison, Tyler Reddick ranks 6th with 533 points. Throughout the season, Wallace has recorded six top-ten and three top-five finishes, but has also faced six DNFs in 18 races. Meanwhile, Reddick has managed six top-ten finishes, four in the top five, plus one pole position, without any DNFs.
What This Means for Wallace’s Season and Future Competitions
The lighthearted qualifying pact highlights the camaraderie between Wallace, van Gisbergen, and McLaughlin, while Wallace’s reflections on his own competitive mindset reveal his determination to elevate his performance amid strong team rivalry. With the 2025 season underway, Wallace is focused on overcoming challenges and finding consistency to improve his position in the Cup Series points race.
Both the lunch bet and Wallace’s candid discussion of pressure within 23XI Racing offer insight into the dynamics behind the scenes and hint at the ongoing motivation driving these drivers forward.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Did Bubba Wallace ever win a race?
A. On October 26, 2013, Wallace was the first African-American to win a race in a national NASCAR series since 1963. He claimed victory at the Camping World Truck Series Kroger 200 held at Martinsville Speedway.
Q. Has Bubba Wallace ever won?
A. Wallace achieved his first-ever Cup victory on October 4, 2021, at Talladega. The race ended early because of rain.
