Bubba Wallace intensifies fight to get into NASCAR Cup Series playoffs
SPEEDWAY, Ind. — Bubba Wallace had a stellar performance Sunday in the Brickyard 400 that erased some drivers’ comfortable cushion to the NASCAR Cup Series playoff cutline.
“We were fifth – what a day,” Wallace said. “I appreciate Bootie (Barker, crew chief) and the gang for just giving me a car to work with. The No. 23 U.S. Air Force Toyota Camry was really, really fast. After a few laps, I was like, I don’t know what we have – but it is good to be back on the oval. The finish is making my mood better, but it was really difficult to pass. All-in-all, a good points day.”
Wallace finished fifth after winning stage two. The effort allowed him to gain 20 points on Ross Chastain, 27 on Chris Buescher and 25 on Ty Gibbs.
Chastain finished 15th. Not only did he lose 10 points on the finishing position alone, he lost another 10 points by not earning any stage points. He is now seven points above the cutline.
Buescher shared in his pain, finishing 22nd with no stage points. He is now 17 points above the cutline.
While Gibbs earned three stage points, he finished 23rd with a bum motor. He is now 42 points above the cutline.
Martin Truex Jr. is the other driver above the cutline, 108 points above it. He can lock himself into the playoffs early if there is another repeat winner and can maintain at least a 60-point advantage going into Darlington or a 120-point advantage going into Daytona.
One of 12 winners this season, Kyle Larson claimed his fourth win of the Cup Series season Sunday. That means, with four races left and four spots to fill, there won’t be more winners than playoff spots and all winners will get in.
These drivers are locked in now:
Larson (4 wins), Chase Elliott (1 win), Tyler Reddick (1 win), Denny Hamlin (3 wins), Ryan Blaney (2 wins), William Byron (3 wins), Christopher Bell (3 wins), Brad Keselowski (1 win), Alex Bowman (1 win), Joey Logano (1 win), Daniel Suarez (1 win) and Austin Cindric (1 win).
Playoff cutline
13. Martin Truex Jr. +108 points to the cutline
14. Ty Gibbs +42
15. Chris Buescher +17
16. Ross Chastain +7
17. Bubba Wallace -7 points to the cutline
18. Chase Briscoe -83
19. Kyle Busch -112
20. Todd Gilliland -118
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Jonathan Fjeld View All
Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick's final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen's stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers' stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com