AUSTIN, Texas — How good is Bubba Wallace feeling, sitting fifth in points after two solid superspeedway performances and a second-place qualifying effort at Circuit of The Americas?
“I don’t know, just lucky, I guess,” Wallace joked after qualifying behind his 23XI Racing teammate Tyler Reddick for Sunday’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix (3:30 p.m. ET, FOX, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
“Just putting in a lot of work, both for myself and the team, and it’s all starting to click,” Wallace added.
“I don’t know why I’m not over the moon excited about starting second on a road course. It just feels wonky to me. I’m not sure. But we did it, we executed, we were faster than the rest of the guys except for one,” he said, while grinning as Reddick walked into the media center for his post-qualifying presser.
Despite being involved in the Lap 197 wreck in the 2025 Daytona 500 and finishing 29th, Wallace opened Speedweeks with a valuable Duel win and scored crucial stage points at two drafting tracks that are right in the No. 23 driver’s wheelhouse. He even netted a ninth-place finish at Atlanta, signaling that the Mobile, Alabama, native is off to a hot start to kick off this year’s campaign.
But showing speed at a road course is new for Wallace, who has yet to record a top-10 finish in four visits to the Austin circuit. Plus, after being 26th fastest after the first practice session, it seemed Wallace’s road course woes would douse his flame. But not for nothing, Wallace is getting red-hot and building on his momentum week-to-week.
“I think my biggest thing is we put in a lot of work in the last month for this place,” Wallace said. “So I think it’s just pushing the envelope and trusting and believing in yourself and believing in the process.”
So, is there a specific change that has given Wallace the much-needed boost for his eighth year full time at the Cup level? Perhaps entering fatherhood has shifted his mentality under the helmet. His teammate and fellow father, Reddick, has seen a change in Wallace’s approach.
“Fatherhood will change you in ways you don’t expect,” Reddick said. “I think he’s got a good approach right now and am excited to see how he continues to grow and change at being a dad and how that affects racing for him. He seems like he’s in a good place right now.”
Wallace even took the time to answer a call from his wife during his media availability — which is understandable for most married men.
“We were just talking, wife [Amanda], there you seen it talking about the baby and talking about something else, and it’s crazy how you have to compartmentalize things, so it’s cool,” Wallace explained.
It’s only two races into the year, but Wallace is certainly showing another side of him and time will tell how the first few weeks of 2025 carry him into Sunday’s race.
“I mean, it’s nice to be on a consistent roll, knowing that it could change and could be wiped out in a moment. You just have to keep it at bay and be ready for what’s next,” Wallace added. “Ever since I’ve been a part of 23XI they’ve highlighted my weaknesses, and they put the ball in my court. So I appreciate all the tools and resources. But, I think we’ve gotten better. I will say tomorrow is a total different story.”
