Bubba Wallace Returns to NASCAR Xfinity Series for Two Races with Joe Gibbs Racing

ELKHART LAKE, WISCONSIN - JULY 03: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 Dr. Pepper Toyota, signs autographs for a fan in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Jockey Made in America 250 Presented by Kwik Trip at Road America on July 03, 2021 in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/23XI Racing via Getty Images)

Bubba Wallace will make a brief return to the NASCAR Xfinity series starting with this week’s race at COTA.

Wallace will race the No. 18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing the team his fulltime outfit in the Cup series, 23XI Racing is aligned with. He will also enter the Xfinity event on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course for the same team in July.

Both are companion races to the Cup series and gives Wallace additional track time at two of the newer courses on the NASCAR schedule.

Wallace made his national series debut with Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity series in 2012. He made a total of six starts with JGR during the 2012 and 2014 Xfinity Series seasons, earning one pole award and four top-10 finishes. He ran in the series fulltime for Roush in 2015 and 2016 where he scored 6 top five finishes in 66 starts.

“I’m looking forward to partnering back up with Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series after making my first career start in NASCAR with them about 10 years ago,” said Wallace. “The No. 18 Toyota GR Supra team is always strong and I’m excited to be competing with them at COTA and Indianapolis. Thanks to the team at 23XI and Toyota for helping to make this happen and thanks to Dr Pepper for coming on board for the race at COTA.”

A sponsor for the race at Indy will be announced at a later date.

Greg Engle