Bubba Wallace secures future with multiyear extension at 23XI Racing amid Playoff expectations

gettyimages-2173431842 — BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 20: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 Toyota Genuine Parts/Mobil 1 Toyota, waits on the grid during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 20, 2024 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

Sharing is caring

With 23XI Racing remaining one of two teams yet to sign NASCAR’s new charter agreement, Bubba Wallace expressed concerns about his future as a NASCAR Cup Series driver.

Those issues were laid to rest this week when Wallace signed a multiyear contract extension with the organization, announced by 23XI in a social media post on Wednesday.

Though Wallace failed to make the Playoffs this season, while teammate Tyler Reddick won the regular-season championship, Hamlin gave Wallace a vote of confidence before NASCAR Cup Series practice on Friday.

“The 23 team needs to make the Playoffs every year,” Hamlin said of Wallace’s Cup effort. “I think that is our expectation, and then make a deep run and finish in the top 10 in points. That is kind of our expectation of kind of where we are at. Just getting in, it is hard for me to say that is the only expectation, but it is an expectation given the standards we are giving ourselves.

“He knows that he needs to get better. I think he has gotten better, so as long as he continues that … We know that, given the stats he has had, the laps that he has led—everything has improved over what he had last year. Just have to take the next step.”

Hamlin has more pressing concerns this weekend. He’s six points below the current cut line for the Playoffs’ Round of 12, facing elimination in Saturday’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race (7:30 p.m. ET on USA, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

“I’m coming here to win,” said Hamlin, who has earned victories in the last two Bristol races. “That strategy won’t change unless the situation changes during the race.”

Note: Two other signings made news this week. AM Racing announced Friday that Harrison Burton will drive for the organization in the NASCAR Xfinity Series next season after his contract with Wood Brothers Racing’s NASCAR Cup team runs its course this year … NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff driver Nick Sanchez will succeed Parker Kligerman in the No. 48 Big Machine Racing Chevrolet in the Xfinity Series next year.