Bubba Wallace wins Brickyard 400 after a suspenseful finish at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, ending his 100-race winless drought in the NASCAR Cup Series and capturing his first crown jewel title. The victory unfolded in double overtime as Wallace, racing for 23XI without a charter, withstood late-race rain, tight fuel margins, and a chaotic sequence of events to cross the finish line first.
Key Moments in a Weather-Disrupted Sprint to Victory
With just six laps remaining, Wallace was leading the Brickyard 400 when rain began to fall in turn one, threatening the final outcome and adding to the already tense conditions. As the sprinkles intensified along the front stretch, NASCAR waved the yellow flag and soon enforced a red flag, countless eyes on Wallace as he nursed both his slim fuel reserve and his lead. The delay brought uncertainty about whether the race would end under green flag conditions, but when action resumed after a 20-minute pause, Wallace’s team confirmed he had enough fuel for one attempt at a green-white-checkers finish.
Reflecting on the pressure, Wallace said,
“To win here at the Brickyard, knowing how big this race is, knowing all the noise that’s going on in the background, to set that to the side is a testament to these people here on this No. 23 team,”
—Bubba Wallace, Driver
He also addressed the recent struggles, stating,
“It’s been getting old running on the cut line.”
—Bubba Wallace, Driver
Mastering Race Strategy and Navigating Chaos
The momentum shifted earlier when Joey Logano suffered a tire failure with 30 laps to go, handing Wallace the chance to take the lead after the race’s front runners, including Ryan Blaney and Katherine Legge, pitted for fuel. Tyler Reddick, Wallace’s teammate, chased him for second, only to be overtaken by last year’s Brickyard winner, Kyle Larson. As the field prepared for NASCAR’s signature late-race drama, pit strategy became crucial; Reddick, Ty Gibbs, Chase Elliott, and Austin Cindric opted for fuel stops, while Wallace stayed out and claimed the inside front row alongside Larson, with William Byron stacking up close behind.
Scott Denike, Wallace’s crew chief, summed up the approach:
“We were in good shape on pace there and fine on fuel until the end,”
—Charles Denike, Crew Chief
“So now, like everyone else, we’re trying to save that little bit of room for a green white checkers.”
—Charles Denike, Crew Chief
Double Overtime Drama and Final-Lap Triumph
The drama escalated after Wallace cleared Larson off turn two, just as a backstretch incident involving Zane Smith and Christopher Bell triggered another late caution and set up a second green-white-checkers finish. Smith’s attempt to block led to contact with Bell, resulting in a crash that also collected Reddick. Undeterred, Wallace pulled ahead on the next restart, grabbed the white flag, and had just enough fuel to complete the final lap, securing a hard-fought, emotional victory.
As the intensity faded and Wallace climbed from his car, he expressed gratitude and pride:
“I’m just so proud of this team, that adrenaline rush is crazy because I’m coming off that right now, and I’m worn out,”
—Bubba Wallace, Driver
“I just want to thank everybody behind me right here. All these men and women at Airspeed for making this possible.”
—Bubba Wallace, Driver
Breaking the Streak and Changing the Narrative
This Brickyard 400 win marks the third NASCAR Cup Series victory for Wallace, who had previously triumphed at Kansas in Kurt Busch’s No. 45 and at Talladega, but had not yet captured a coveted crown jewel race. The win comes without a 23XI Racing charter, making the accomplishment even more significant as debates over NASCAR’s charter system and competitiveness linger. Notably, last year’s champion Kyle Larson, also a key figure in this race, fought but could not repeat his triumph, with Hendrick Motorsports playing a major strategic role in the closing laps.
For Wallace, the breakthrough carries deep personal meaning and is sure to influence the ongoing conversation surrounding diversity and representation in motorsports. Victory at Indianapolis also boosts momentum for 23XI Racing and sends a message to the entire NASCAR Cup Series field as the playoffs approach. With contributors like Ty Gibbs, Ryan Blaney, and others central to the race‘s shifting dynamics, the 2024 Brickyard 400 will be remembered as one of the season’s most emotionally charged showdowns.
