Bubba Wallace Admits 23XI Racing Needs More Speed After Strong NASCAR Finish

Bubba Wallace secured a valuable sixth-place finish at North Wilkesboro Speedway, but he made it clear that 23XI Racing still has work to do to challenge the best cars every week.

What happened?

Wallace's sixth-place result came after a clean race at the historic short track, where only six drivers finished on the lead lap. The No. 23 team bounced back from a disappointing finish at EchoPark Speedway, and Wallace praised his team for avoiding mistakes that often change the outcome of short-track races.

Why it matters for Bubba Wallace

The NASCAR Cup Series race at North Wilkesboro tested every team across 450 laps, with drivers dealing with heat, tire wear, traffic, and strategy throughout nearly 300 miles of racing. Wallace highlighted how smoothly the No. 23 Toyota performed from start to finish, with no hiccups or incidents on track.

What comes next?

Despite the strong finish, Wallace said 23XI Racing still needs more speed to compete with top teams in the NASCAR Cup Series. He emphasized that the team's overall pace must improve if it wants to fight consistently for wins. Looking ahead to next week's event, where he is the defending winner, Wallace remained focused on earning another victory.

Wallace admitted he did not expect the field to spread out so quickly during the race. "I guess I was surprised at just how many cars were on the lead lap," he said. "I went from the lead to almost going a lap down. It was just nice to be on that side of the ball where we were in the front group and didn't have to really worry about it."

The sixth-place finish came one week after a late penalty at EchoPark Speedway cost Wallace a chance to finish second. Despite the setback, Wallace said the recent results have kept the team's confidence high. "It didn't really take away the confidence," he said. "The way I look at it is two back-to-back good races for us. We're firing on all cylinders when we need to."

Wallace also praised his team for avoiding the mistakes that often change the outcome of short-track races. "It was grueling," he said. "The heat factor, I mean, it was just humid inside the car. When you can just focus on things that you can control, the heart rate stays somewhat at a decent level, and you're able to manage a race better."

The NASCAR Cup Series race at North Wilkesboro Speedway was won by Joey Logano, who controlled the event by leading 323 laps to earn his first win of the 2026 season and end a 45-race winless streak. Denny Hamlin finished in second place, with Chase Briscoe, Ty Gibbs, and Shane van Gisbergen trailing behind. Wallace rounded out the group of lead-lap finishers in sixth.

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