Bubba Wallace finds himself barely holding on to a place in the postseason following a chaotic close to Sunday’s race in Chicago, making the Bubba Wallace NASCAR playoff standings a topic of renewed focus. The incident-filled finish with Alex Bowman tightened the competition for the final playoff spot, leaving Wallace ahead of the cutoff by only two points as the season heads toward its final stretch.
Wallace’s Slim Hold on the Final Playoff Position
Entering the weekend’s event at the Chicago Street Course, Bubba Wallace was sitting in the 16th spot, which is the last available position for playoff contention, ahead of Ryan Preece by a margin of 23 points. However, after a tough day marked by on-track conflict in the Windy City, Wallace’s advantage over Preece dwindled to a mere two points.
AJ Allmendinger, known as “The Dinger” and racing for Kaulig Racing, sits further back but moved up in the standings with a sixth-place finish in Chicago. His performance put him 43 points behind Wallace and elevated him past Erik Jones in the rankings. Kyle Busch, following a strong run to fifth place at the Chicago event, also advanced, now trailing Allmendinger by three points and leading Jones by four. These shifts put Busch 46 points back from Wallace in the competition for the last playoff spot.
The small gaps in points mean that several contenders, including Preece, Allmendinger, Busch, and Jones, remain close enough to challenge Wallace for his position. Since a single race can award up to 60 points, the standings continue to be fluid with each event.
Drivers Above Wallace Remain in Danger Near the Playoff Cutoff
The pressure is not just on those trailing Wallace; the competitors ahead of him also face precarious positions as the playoff cutoff approaches. Chris Buescher of RFK Racing and Alex Bowman of Hendrick Motorsports, a well-known rival of Wallace, are directly above him in the current standings. Bowman holds a 37-point lead over Wallace and 39 points over Preece, giving him some cushion but not enough for comfort. Buescher is just four points behind Bowman, yet 33 points ahead of Wallace and 35 ahead of Preece.
Between Bowman and another provisional playoff qualifier, Ross Chastain, sits Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing. Though Reddick has yet to secure a race victory this season, he boasts a 143-point buffer over Preece and stands 104 points up on Bowman, offering him significant breathing room as the playoff picture develops.
With seven races left before the 16-driver NASCAR Cup Series playoff roster is finalized, the path to the postseason remains open for drivers such as Wallace, Preece, Allmendinger, Busch, and Jones, as well as those immediately ahead of the cutoff.
Playoff Picture Continues to Shift as Season Nears Its Conclusion
Sunday’s contest at the Chicago Street Race further squeezed the margins in the NASCAR postseason race, providing little certainty for those near the bottom of the standings. The actions of Alex Bowman—who spun Wallace after several laps of physical competition—show the intensifying rivalries as drivers battle for every critical point.
With consistent changes in the points following each event, including standout performances and sudden misfortunes, no spot can be considered safe until the playoff field is officially set. For now, Bubba Wallace’s grip on the final playoff berth is as narrow as it has been all year, and the coming races on the NASCAR Cup Series calendar will determine if he and other bubble drivers can hold on or be overtaken by challengers.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Did Bubba Wallace ever win a race?
A. Wallace got his first Cup win on October 4, 2021, at Talladega after rain caused the race to end early.
Q. Has Bubba Wallace’s baby been born?
A. Bubba and Amanda revealed the birth of their baby with a shared Instagram post featuring photos from the hospital. Their son, Becks Hayden Wallace, was born on September 29th.
Q. Has Bubba Wallace won a race?
A. Wallace is the first Black driver to win a Cup Series race since Wendell Scott in 1963. This victory was also the first for a McDonald’s-sponsored car since Jimmy Spencer’s win in 1994. On October 4, 2021, Wallace secured his first career Cup win at Talladega when the race ended early because of rain.
Q. Is Bubba Wallace a dad?
A. Bubba Wallace, a NASCAR driver, welcomed his first child last September and is thoroughly enjoying parenthood.
