With just eight races remaining in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series regular season, Bubba Wallace finds himself in a familiar — and uncomfortable — position. The driver of the No. 23 Toyota for 23XI Racing is clinging to the final playoff spot after another underwhelming run, finishing 22nd under the lights at EchoPark Speedway.
Coming off a crash and a 36th-place finish at Pocono the week prior, Wallace and his team entered Saturday night needing a rebound. Instead, they got buried in traffic once again, and for the second straight week, failed to crack the top 20. Though Wallace still holds a 23-point buffer above the cut line, momentum is slipping at a crucial stage of the season.
NASCAR Insider Jordan Bianchi Sounds the Alarm
Motorsports reporter Jordan Bianchi, speaking on a recent episode of The Teardown podcast, summarized Wallace’s 2025 campaign with a mix of concern and familiarity.
“If you look at a guy like Bubba Wallace and his season and the direction it’s going, they’ve had speed, but they don’t have the results to show for it and they’re going in the wrong direction.” – Jordan Bianchi
Wallace has shown flashes of competitiveness — including top-five finishes at Las Vegas, Talladega, and Michigan — but his average finish now sits at 19.4 after 18 races. Just like in 2024, Wallace has hovered near the bubble, unable to break through with a win to secure a postseason berth. That lack of a guaranteed spot leaves him vulnerable to the chaos of NASCAR’s win-and-in playoff format.
Bianchi also pointed to how things unraveled late last year, when surprise victories by Harrison Burton and Chase Briscoe in the final two races eliminated Wallace from playoff contention despite a season spent mostly above the cut line.
“It doesn’t matter. It just doesn’t matter,” Bianchi said bluntly.
“You can have a good year and you can point everything, but if you cannot find a way to win a race, you leave your fate up to other people.”
Bubba Wallace Facing Another Street Course Test in Chicago
Next up for Wallace is a return to the streets of Chicago for NASCAR’s third trip to the downtown circuit. The 75-lap Grant Park 165 will mark the 19th race of the season — and one of Wallace’s last remaining chances to take control of his playoff destiny.
While street courses haven’t historically been his strongest suit, Wallace’s performance in the 2024 edition of the Chicago race showed signs of growth. He finished 13th last year after struggling to a 31st-place result in the rain-soaked inaugural event.
Wallace and the No. 23 team have proven they can contend on a variety of tracks this season. But that consistency hasn’t translated into a win — and in today’s NASCAR, that’s a dangerous game to play down the stretch.
23XI Racing Rallies Fans Around Wallace Ahead of Chicago
Off the track, Wallace remains one of the sport’s most visible and supported figures. 23XI Racing is doing its part to rally the fanbase behind its star driver as the season reaches a critical juncture.
According to the team’s social media, Wallace will make a public appearance this Sunday morning at the Air Force display in the Chicago street race fan zone. The event is scheduled from 10:15 to 10:35 a.m. CT, with wristbands available to the first 75 fans.
“Come see Bubba in Chicago ✈️ @USAFRecruiting,” the team wrote on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the connection between Wallace and his longtime Air Force sponsor.
For Wallace, whose off-track popularity and marketability remain unquestioned, it’s another chance to connect with the fans. But on-track performance is what ultimately drives the sport — and keeps playoff hopes alive.
News in Brief: Bubba Wallace’s Playoff Hopes on Shaky Ground
Bubba Wallace’s 2025 season has been defined by potential — and now, by pressure. With three top-five finishes and competitive runs at several intermediates and superspeedways, the ingredients are there for success. But the failure to convert speed into wins has left Wallace on a familiar tightrope.
Just like last year, Wallace risks being leapfrogged by a late surprise winner. Only this time, he may not have the cushion or momentum to recover. As the Cup Series heads into its final eight races of the regular season, the question is no longer whether Wallace can be competitive — but whether he can finish the job.
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