Bubba Wallace experienced a major setback in the Richmond Raceway event after a pit stop mistake took him out of contention, despite strong domination in the early laps. The Bubba Wallace pit stop mistake Richmond caused potential momentum ahead of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs to slip away, denying the 23XI Racing driver a significant win on the eve of postseason competition.
Wallace’s Dominance Disrupted by Pit Error
Entering Richmond with confidence after his recent Brickyard 400 win at Indianapolis, Bubba Wallace was already qualified for the NASCAR Cup playoffs. He led an impressive 123 laps—his highest tally so far in a Cup race—putting his No. 23 Toyota at the front of the field for much of the night in one of the last races before the regular season championship cutoff.
The tide turned late in Stage 2 when Wallace’s promising run was interrupted by a critical error during a pit stop. The left-front tire was not properly secured on his 23XI Racing car, and it fell off as he exited the stall. The incident occurred just as Wallace aimed to strengthen both his playoff momentum and his points total heading into the postseason campaign.
Pit Crew Assistance Allows Wallace to Rejoin
While the unscheduled pit stop cost Wallace valuable track position and chance at victory, a notable moment unfolded when Chase Briscoe’s Joe Gibbs Racing pit crew stepped in to help. Acting swiftly, Briscoe’s crew managed to recover the errant wheel, lift the No. 23 Toyota, and securely fix the tire, enabling Wallace to reenter the race, though laps behind the leaders.
“The No. 23 team owes the No. 19 team a steak dinner for this.”
—NASCAR (via X account)
Penalties Compound the Setback
Despite returning to the track, Wallace could not regain the pace needed to fight for the win, ultimately finishing 28th rather than contending for his fourth career Cup Series victory. The rules also worked against him; since he had to pit outside his own box and ended up in Chase Briscoe’s pit area, Wallace received a pass-through penalty under NASCAR regulations. This further prevented any hopes of recovery before the checkered flag.
What’s Next for Wallace and His Team?
With just one regular season event left before the 10-race postseason begins, Wallace and the 23XI Racing team must refocus after this costly pit stop error. The episode illustrates how even small moments can have a major impact at this stage in the championship, especially when valuable playoff positioning is at stake. The team will look to regroup, address their pit stop process, and enter the playoffs aiming to rebound from the disappointment at Richmond Raceway.
