Bubba Wallace lifted the lid on a text message with fellow NASCAR Cup Series driver Shane van Gisbergen revealing a friendly bet betweem the two drivers.
23XI Racing’s Wallace has had a strong season, but was subject to a cheeky text from Van Gisbergen after his strong regular season.
The New Zealander text Wallace: “I haven’t seen your retirement post,” before Wallace replied confusing stating: “Haha what post?”
Van Gisbergen then pointed to a bet that the two seemingly had before year begun, as he text Wallace: “If you ever out qualify me on oval I’m retiring”.
Wallace posted the image of the exchange with the caption: “Ole bloke out-qualified me now I gotta retire”.
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Van Gisbergen has had a strong first full season as a full-time Cup Series driver, qualifying for the playoffs, before being one of the four drivers eliminated – alongside current champion Joey Logano.
Wallace, meanwhile, is in the best spot he’s ever been in to win a championship. He’s in the final 12 and not in the cut-off points ahead of the October 5 elimination race.
Every point will be vital for Wallace, needing a strong finish this weekend in hopes of competing along the likes of Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin and William Byron.
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Speaking on his midnset heading into the race, Wallace said: “I think you gotta intensify a little bit more, you know. We’re in by one or two, whatever it is. And so it’s going to take, it takes everything.
“The last round took everything as well, but it’s more defined on this one, I would say. So, yeah, but I think the base hits mentality is just don’t let the highs get too high, lows get too low. Just go out and lap by lap, make the right moves, let the little stuff go to focus on the big stuff later.”