If an NFL coach misses the playoffs, their chances of getting a contract extension a couple weeks later are likely very slim.
That’s not the case for NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace, who despite missing the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, received a contract extension from 23XI Racing on Wednesday that he’s more than deserving of.
To the naked eye, missing the postseason for the third time in four seasons with 23XI Racing may not seem like grounds for a multiyear extension, but it takes a deeper dive to see why Wallace was tapped to continue driving the No. 23 car.
Wallace may have missed the NASCAR postseason, but it wasn’t due to a poor season or a late collapse. In fact, Wallace scored five top-10 finishes over the last eight races of the regular season, and was 12th in points after 26 events.
While it’s the top 16 drivers that make the Cup Series playoffs, wins from drivers below Wallace — namely Daniel Suarez, Austin Cindric, Chase Briscoe and Harrison Burton — pushed Wallace, along with fellow bubble driver Chris Buescher, out of the playoff picture.
A lack of a playoff berth, however, doesn’t take away from the fact that Wallace is in the midst of the best season of his Cup Series career. The Mobile, Alabama, native has already tied his career-best in both top-five and top-10 finishes, and a win from Wallace over the final eight weeks wouldn’t be surprising.
2024 has seen the No. 23 team take the step from occasional contender to frequent contender, and Wallace has consistently run in the top-five and top-10 more than he’s done in any season prior.
The stat sheet and the eye test all point to the contract extension being a win for both Wallace and 23XI, and 2025 has the potential to be the breakout season for both parties.
With eight races remaining in the 2024 season, Wallace and the No. 23 team are trying to finish out their strongest season yet, as well as trying to find victory lane for the first time 2022.
