Whereas Bubba Wallace has improved in recent times, his driving on street programs nonetheless leaves one thing to be desired. Like extra top-10s. The NASCAR driver realized he wanted extra assist, and that’s when he reached out to Toyota.
Proper now, Bubba Wallace is in Daytona for the IMSA Michelin Pilot Problem. He’s set to drive, alongside Corey Heim and John Hunter Nemechek, the Smooge Racing No. 23 Toyota Supra GT4 EVO.
The Toyota trio from NASCAR goes to tackle the four-hour BMW Endurance Problem. That race will likely be on Friday, January 26. After all, it’s all within the buildup for the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Whereas this group was introduced not too long ago, Bubba Wallace truly reached out to Toyota going again to final 12 months, again in August.
“I mentioned, ‘Hey, I need assistance,’” Wallace mentioned in an interview with The Daytona Seashore Information-Journal.
“They mentioned, ‘we’re on it.’ So within the offseason they requested if I wished to run this. I mentioned ‘hell yeah, why not?’”
On the street final 12 months Bubba Wallace had a DNF P37 end at COTA, P17 at Sonoma, P31 at Chicago, P18 at Indianapolis, P12 at Watkins Glen, and completed P16 on the Roval. Not something to write down house about, which is why the 23XI Racing driver is in Daytona in January.
“It’s only a matter of race-craft – determining learn how to go, arrange passing, various things like that,” Wallace mentioned.
Whereas it took him just a few runs to get used to the IMSA automotive, Bubba Wallace appears to have gotten comfy. Wallace mentioned he was now “sending it” on laps as a substitute of being “timid.”
Bubba Wallace nonetheless keen to be taught
The principle takeaway I get from this IMSA stint is that Wallace remains to be eager to be taught and keen. He’s been within the Cup Collection occurring seven years now and has by no means performed a sports activities automotive race earlier than, however he’s doing it now.
Wallace can be doing it with two youthful drivers, one a Truck Collection expertise in Heim, and the opposite a Cup Collection competitors in Nemechek – and he’s keen to work with them. There’s a change in NASCAR, and it’s doubtless nonetheless coming.
There was the grime invasion of NASCAR. Now, we’re going to have the street course invasion. There’s extra emphasis on street programs. NASCAR put Watkins Glen within the playoffs. To not point out, drivers like Shane van Gisbergen are going to check out NASCAR increasingly more.
Bubba Wallace and different drivers see the writing on the wall and they’re reacting. A pleasant four-hour endurance race will likely be good for all three of those NASCAR drivers.
