DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Bubba Wallace made the NASCAR playoffs for the first time, taking the last available spot in the 16-driver field on Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway. Meanwhile, Chase Elliott failed to make this year’s field.
Below, The Athletic’s Jeff Gluck offers a quick reaction to the Cup Series regular-season finale.
Bubba is in
Tears flowed when Wallace emerged from the No. 23 car on pit road, but they surprisingly weren’t from the emotional driver. Instead, his wife Amanda stood nearby wiping her eyes in a happy moment.
Wallace, for his part, said he was too “mentally drained” to have any sort of emotion either way. He was thrilled to be in the playoffs, sure, but mostly relieved after what he said was one of the most difficult weeks of his life — one that saw him waking up in the middle of the night, stressed over entering Daytona on the playoff bubble.
But now Wallace is in the field for the first time, along with teammate Tyler Reddick, who bear-hugged him from behind during an interview. Later, 23XI Racing co-owner Michael Jordan sauntered down pit road to congratulate Wallace and crew members — and told crew chief Bootie Barker he’d see him next week at the Southern 500 in Darlington, S.C.
How far can Wallace go in the playoffs?…
