Bubba Wallace ready to break winless streak as he heads into a crucial phase of the 2025 NASCAR Cup season. Currently 10th in the standings after 12 races, Wallace aims to end his victory drought at the upcoming Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Wallace’s 2025 Season So Far: Progress Amid Setbacks
Bubba Wallace’s performances through the first 12 races of the season have been a mixture of highs and lows. Driving for 23XI Racing, he holds 10th place as he prepares for Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600, the longest race of the year at Charlotte. Despite finishing 33rd in his last two races at Texas and Kansas due to crashes, Wallace believes the early season has been productive overall.
Wallace appreciates the progress his team has made and feels many goals have been met, though winning remains elusive. “Me in victory lane,” Wallace joked with Racer.com, emphasizing his desire to finally take the checkered flag since 2022. He sees the upcoming trio of intermediate tracks—Charlotte, Nashville, and Michigan—as ideal opportunities to improve his position and secure a win.
Entering Charlotte, Wallace brings a solid record with two top-5 finishes and four top-10 results across the season. He expressed confidence particularly in his performance on mile-and-a-half tracks, saying,
“I feel like our mile-and-a-halfs are really, really strong.”
He recalled the Kansas race weekend positively, apart from a penalty and the crash that hampered his race.
In reflecting on previous years, Wallace noted that mile-and-a-half races had often been routine, producing mainly top-10 finishes without much excitement. However, this season represents a turning point:
“But we’re getting stage points now, we’re competitive, our name is in the hat. We just now have to close out the deal. I think through the summer stretch, yes, I’m excited for what’s next.”
Challenges Ahead on Road and Street Circuits
The schedule after the Michigan race shifts to a demanding mix of road and street course events, framed by fast oval tracks. Wallace and other Cup drivers will compete at new venues including the inaugural race in Mexico City, followed by Pocono, Atlanta, and then the street races in Chicago and Sonoma’s road course.
Wallace admits that non-oval courses have traditionally been a weakness but remains hopeful for improved results this season.
“I think it’s just going to be surviving there, capitalizing on the good moments, not having any mistakes,”
Wallace said. He identified Sonoma as the key road course he needs to master but feels more confident about Chicago, where the team has consistently shown speed.
Team Dynamics and New Leadership
Wallace has adapted to a new crew chief, Charles Denike, who replaced Bootie Barker following Barker’s promotion within 23XI Racing. Despite the change, Wallace sees little difference in leadership style beyond their personalities, suggesting a smooth transition behind the scenes.
Wallace also reflected on his consistent standing in the points this season, a new experience for him.
“I’ve never been 10th in points 12 races in,”
he said.
“I’ve been the drama for the last four races leading up to the playoffs of trying to make it in. I’m not saying we’re locked in by any means but… Kansas sucked, we lost 20 points there… but 56 points to the good, I’ve never said that before. It’s cool to say that.”
Although the struggles at Kansas dealt a blow, Wallace remains optimistic about maintaining momentum through the regular season and into the playoffs.
Building Toward a Playoff Run and Ending the Winless Streak
The foundation for a strong finish to the season appears to be in place for Bubba Wallace. With consistent finishes and increasing competitiveness, he is setting the stage for a potential breakthrough. The next three intermediate track races and the subsequent road course events will test his adaptability and resolve.
Victory lane continues to be the ultimate goal for Wallace, whose determination to end his winless streak is clear. With promising performances on mile-and-a-half tracks and a solid points position, the remainder of the 2025 NASCAR Cup season could mark a turning point in his career and 23XI Racing’s success.
