Bubba’s Texas Tango: A Dance to the Top!
In a display of sheer racing prowess, Bubba Wallace turned the tables at the Texas Motor Speedway this Saturday. With a dramatic final lap during the NASCAR Cup Series qualifying, he claimed the coveted pole position for the upcoming AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400. And who did he leave eating his dust? None other than the hometown favorite, Texas native Chris Buescher.
While driving the No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota, Wallace clocked an impressive 188.337 mph around the 1.5-mile Fort Worth high banks. This was enough to edge out Buescher’s No. 17 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford by a mere .039-second. Talk about a photo finish! This marks Wallace’s first pole position of the season and only the second of his career. Wallace is among the 12 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff-eligible drivers, making this victory even sweeter.
But wait, there’s more! Wallace’s speedy lap also halted Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell’s streak of pole positions at three. Bell, another championship contender, had previously swept the pole positions in the opening round of Playoffs. He’ll now be starting ninth this Sunday.
Buescher’s teammate and team co-owner, Brad Keselowski, was the third fastest, followed by rookie Joe Gibbs Racing driver Ty Gibbs and Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain. The top 10 in qualifying also featured Kaulig Racing’s A.J. Allmendinger, Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch, Chastain’s Trackhouse teammate Daniel Suárez, Bell, and JGR’s Denny Hamlin.
After reflecting on his performance, Wallace grinned, “I held it wide open. It’s all about the people at 23XI, the 23-team, and the 45-car as well. We keep pushing each other to be better, and it’s paying off. Tomorrow is the real test.”
**About the Author**
🚗💨 I’m the NASCAR Guy: your go-to for a blend of numbers, humor, and pure, unadulterated NASCAR devotion. Ever catch me racing? Nope! My expertise is on the keyboard, not the clutch 🏎️💻. Fun fact: my pit stop breakdowns could give Sherlock a run for his money 🕵️♂️📖. Hungry for NASCAR tidbits or a hearty laugh? Welcome to your oasis! 🛑 But as for racing me? I’ll stick to making tracks online! 🔥📜😆