Bubba Wallace has been one of the most impressive drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series this season. After achieving career-best stats in 2024, the 23XI Racing driver is on pace to surpass those numbers in 2025, with eight races still remaining on the schedule. His consistent performance, most recently at World Wide Technology Raceway, has propelled him to new heights.
Is This Bubba Wallace’s Best Playoff Run Ever?
In just 28 races this season, Wallace has already secured four top-five and 12 top-10 finishes, putting him just two top-10s shy of his career-best total. Additionally, he broke a 100-race winless streak during the regular season by winning a crown jewel event. The victory, which allowed him to “kiss the bricks” at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, has already made his 2025 season a special one.
To make it even more memorable, his recent performance during the playoffs at Gateway shattered his personal record for laps led in a single season. His previous best was set in 2023, when the driver of the #23 car led 285 laps. However, following a dominant run at Gateway where he led 73 of the 240 laps, Wallace’s total for 2025 has already surpassed the 300 mark.
In a recent post on X, NASCAR Insights shared the update: “Bubba Wallace has now led more laps in 2025 than he has ever led in a season in the Cup Series (305+).” Following the race at WWT Raceway, Wallace has now led 343 laps this season.
The #23 team executed a strategy at Gateway designed to maximize points. Wallace started in 14th place but quickly climbed through the field, finishing the first stage in sixth. He went on to dominate and win the second stage. By the end of the race, Wallace secured a P8 finish. That result was crucial, as it helped keep him in a strong position in the playoff standings.
After the Gateway race, Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin have already clinched their spots in the Round of 12. Behind them, Kyle Larson sits 60 points above the elimination line, and right behind Larson is Wallace, who has a 50-point cushion. If Wallace continues this strong performance in the upcoming race at Bristol, he could advance to the next round in an excellent position.
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Naturally, this performance has Wallace feeling confident. In his post-race interview, he said, “We are plus 50, that is a good sight to see. Solid execution all day with varying strategies from the whole field…Looking at big picture, if you would have told me we would have led laps and had the car maybe to win today after practice, I would have said hell no. All-in-all, solid day for our Toyota Camry team.”
Wallace’s best season-ending rank in the NASCAR standings is tenth, which he achieved in 2023. Based on his performance this year, it looks like he is in a position to do even better. He might even make a run for the Championship Four and a shot at the title.