Bubba Wallace could be Michael Jordan’s disappointment at Texas in Tyler Reddick’s playoff hunt

Not making the playoffs was definitely disappointing. However, it’s even more disappointing when your teammates make the playoffs and you don’t. Qualifying for the playoffs determines a lot of things. Firstly, this goes a long way in deciding your future with your current team. Second, it could make you gain or lose sponsorship. Therefore, the playoff race is extremely important for every NASCAR driver.

2023 marks the first time Bubba Wallace has qualified for the playoffs since Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin formed 23XI Racing. With the same equipment and facilities, his teammate Tyler Reddick qualified in his first year. Thanks to Chris Buescher, there was no new winner at Daytona, with Bubba Wallace clinching the final playoff spot.

Bubba Wallace faces latest challenge

A lack of synchrony between Bubba Wallace and Michael Jordan’s pit crew has ruined the 29-year-old Alabama native’s life on multiple occasions. But he appears to have regained momentum and his pit crew appear to have corrected their mistakes. Bubba Wallace is ready for the Round 12 opener at Texas Motor Speedway.

However, Bubba Wallace’s record at Texas Motor Speedway wasn’t as promising as Reddick’s. Since 2020, Bubba Wallace has just 1 top 10 finish, zero top 5 finishes, and zero wins. Tyler Reddick, on the other hand, came away victorious in 2022 on the 1.5-mile asphalt oval.

Additionally, at Bristol, Tyler Reddick’s crew chief, Billy Scott, radioed the No. 45 driver to request that all 4 tires be changed at the correct time, hinting at The pit crew of the No. 45 team has supremacy over the pit crew of the No. 23 team.

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So, it’s safe to say that the Michael Jordan Cup Series protégé may have to outdo his teammates to live up to his boss’s expectations. Not to mention, Denny Hamlin will leave no stone unturned in his quest for victory. This makes the challenge he faces even more difficult.

Tyler Reddick poses bigger threat to Wallace with performance at Texas Motor Speedway

Not only is NASCAR a $100 million sport, it’s a full-fledged entertainment industry that demands exposure, conflict and controversy. A perfect start can be marred by rain or a flat tire. You may even get too caught up in other people’s problems to complain. That’s the nature of racing. In fact, it is a game of luck as well as skill.

Around the same time last year, the 500-mile NASCAR race at Texas Motor Speedway was red-flagged due to rain, causing a 55-minute delay that once again extended the race by more than five hours. Several playoff drivers, including then-points leader Chase Elliott, Christopher Bell and HMS star Alex Bowman, failed to even finish Complete the game.

According to NBC Sports, Tyler Reddick said, “I was very worried; I’m not going to lie. Unfortunately, almost every time we have a fast car, we have some tire issues. The last run, the right side was vibrating really, really bad.”

However, Reddick battled through the adversity to earn his third win of the season and his first at the Oval. After leading 70 laps, he lifted the championship trophy in victory lane. This could be a sign that Tyler Reddick is able to handle misfortune better than his teammates.