CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Bubba Wallace's hopes of making the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs come down to the final regular season race at Darlington.
The 23XI Racing driver is just outside the 16-driver playoff grid, meaning he'll need to win at Darlington or score enough points to push his way into the picture. Performing well at the Southern 500 is always a daunting task, but Wallace believes his team is ready for the challenge.
"We just have to outpace [Chris Buescher and Ross Chastain] by a handful of cars from start to finish," Wallace said during a media appearance on Wednesday. "When we feel like we're backed into a corner, our team responds really well, so we just gotta continue to do that."
Wallace heads into Darlington 21 points behind the last spot on the playoff grid occupied by Buescher. It's not an absolute must-win situation for Wallace but stage points will need to be obtained early on for him to have a chance to make the cut.
The 2024 season has so far been the best of Wallace's career. His five top fives and 10 top 10s already have matched his career bests in those categories with still 11 races left for Wallace to better those marks.
Wallace has especially turned things up a notch as the season has progressed. Wallace has the second-best average finish in the Cup Series among full-time drivers during the last six races, scoring four top 10s in that period.
The only full-time competitor better than Wallace during that stretch is Tyler Reddick, Wallace's 23XI Racing teammate who leads the regular season points standings. Wallace was open about the contrasting situations for the two teams, as one fights for the regular season title and the other is fighting just to make the playoffs.
"[Reddick's team has been] able to execute and be there for the end of races as to where we were either caught up in somebody else's mess or something would go south and we didn't have an opportunity to better ourselves," Wallace said. "I'm confident in our team and our ability as long as all the outside factors execute, pit crew and strategy. There's no reason why we can't be in victory lane."
The one thing missing from Wallace's 2024 season is a trip to victory lane. Wallace's last win came at Kansas in October 2022, stretching his winless streak to 68 races heading into Darlington.
"As boring as it sounds, [when I] get out of the car, [I think] 'Hey, we didn't win today, but there's always next week,'" Wallace said. "People want to see the frustration and the anger and, well, it's there, but it's being constructed in a more meaningful way and used for the next weekend and the next race. I'm in a very blessed and fortunate spot to be in the sport with this team and these people, so I can't let one bad race ruin the rest of my year. We got 36 races, 36 opportunities to win."
Wallace says having a more positive outlook on things has helped him have a better feeling on and off the track.
"It doesn't mean I'm not as pissed off when we don't win," Wallace said. "It just means... instead of pointing the blame, you get back to the shop, figure out where we need to be better. There are so many positive things that come out of just having a better mindset."
Wallace has one previous appearance in the NASCAR playoffs. He made it in 2023 and finished the year 10th in points.
The Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway is on Sunday, Sept. 1 on USA Network. It's the 75th running of the prestigious event which has often been heralded as the toughest race to win. Kyle Larson is the defending winner.
