{"id":43415,"date":"2023-09-23T15:14:35","date_gmt":"2023-09-23T20:14:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=43415"},"modified":"2023-09-23T15:21:55","modified_gmt":"2023-09-23T20:21:55","slug":"bubba-wallace-takes-pole-position-at-texas-motor-speedway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2023\/09\/23\/bubba-wallace-takes-pole-position-at-texas-motor-speedway\/","title":{"rendered":"Bubba Wallace takes pole position at Texas Motor Speedway"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Holly Cain<\/em><\/p>\n

NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

FORT WORTH, Texas \u2013 Bubba Wallace turned in a dramatic final lap of NASCAR Cup Series qualifying at Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday to claim the pole position for Sunday\u2019s AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 (3:30 p.m. ET, USA Network, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 McDonald’s Toyota, poses for photos after winning the pole award during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Texas Motor Speedway on September 23, 2023 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Wallace\u2019s qualifying lap of 188.337 mph in the No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota around the 1.5-mile Fort Worth high banks just edged the hometown favorite, Texas-native Chris Buescher\u2019s No. 17 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford by a slight .039-second. It\u2019s Wallace\u2019s first pole position of the season and only the second career pole for the 29-year old Mobile, Ala. native – who is one of 12 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff-eligible drivers in this opening race of the second three-race round of the elimination-style format.<\/p>\n

Wallace\u2019s fast lap stopped Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell\u2019s streak of pole positions at three. Bell \u2013 who is also championship eligible – swept the pole positions in the entire opening round of Playoffs and will start ninth on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Buescher\u2019s teammate and team co-owner, Brad Keselowski \u2013 also a Playoff contender – was third fastest, followed by rookie Joe Gibbs Racing driver Ty Gibbs and Trackhouse Racing\u2019s Ross Chastain – another Playoff driver.<\/p>\n

Kaulig Racing\u2019s A.J. Allmendinger, Richard Childress Racing\u2019s Kyle Busch, Chastain\u2019s Trackhouse teammate Daniel Su\u00e1rez, Bell and JGR\u2019s Denny Hamlin rounded out the top 10 in qualifying to set the 36-car field. Busch, Chastain, Bell and Hamlin are all Playoff contenders too.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 McDonald’s Toyota, drives during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Texas Motor Speedway on September 23, 2023 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

In eight series starts at Texas, Wallace has only a single top-10 finish \u2013 eighth place coming in his debut on the track in 2018. His only other top 20 (14th) came in 2020 spring race.<\/p>\n

\u201cI held it wide open,\u2019\u2019 Wallace said with a smile, adding, \u201cIt\u2019s all about the people at 23XI, the 23-team and the 45-car as well. We keep pushing each other to be better and better and it\u2019s paying off. I\u2019m proud of the effort, but it\u2019s nice for a moment, tomorrow is the real test.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cWas I expecting it? I don\u2019t know. In qualifying I tend to try too hard and overthink things. I need to stop that and just go out and do. So that was a good surprise.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hendrick Motorsports\u2019 William Byron and regular season champion, JGR\u2019s Martin Truex Jr. \u2013 who are tied atop the standings coming into Texas \u2013 qualified 18th and 16th, respectively.  Kyle Larson, who is ranked third in the championship standings just missed advancing to the final qualifying session and will start 11th.<\/p>\n

Other Playoff drivers, Wallace\u2019s teammate Tyler Reddick and Team Penske\u2019s Ryan Blaney will start 15th and 23rd, respectively.<\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/WallaceNCS092323.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

HAMLIN FELLING THE TITLE VIBES<\/b><\/p>\n

Hamlin has advanced into the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs\u2019 Round of 12 for the 10th consecutive season \u2013 the driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota and the most recent winner (at Bristol, Tenn. last weekend) as the series begins this next three-race series to narrow the title contenders to eight.<\/p>\n

Although his three wins, 11 top fives (including four runner-up showings) and 14 top 10s through the openings 25 races are impressive, there\u2019s something different about the 19-year veteran in this year\u2019s Playoff run. His take-no-prisoners maneuvers on track may have occasionally earned \u201cboos\u201d from crowds this year, but Hamlin is absolutely feeling increasingly confident and optimistic about finally securing his first NASCAR Cup Series championship trophy.<\/p>\n

Five times he\u2019s finished third or better in the title run; his best showing a runner-up to seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson in 2010. He\u2019s finished fourth or better the last four seasons.<\/p>\n

This, however, may just be \u201cHamlin\u2019s year,\u201d according to racing journalists, social media, his competitors. And Hamlin.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really do, but I also know sometimes things out of your control can happen,\u2019\u2019 Hamlin said of his title expectations. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to understand that. I say that, so you don\u2019t crash too far down when things don\u2019t go your way and you don\u2019t have the outcome you expect. But certainly based on the speed we show week-in and week-out, absolutely I believe we\u2019re one of the best four teams out there that should compete for a championship at Phoenix.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you have to play the game. There\u2019s a lot of work that has to be done between now and then and sometimes things are out of your control. But if they do stay in our control, I believe it\u2019s a year that we would be tough to beat.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

BYRON\u2019S BEST<\/b><\/p>\n

Byron\u2019s NASCAR Cup Series-leading five victories in 2023 are a career high \u2013 as are his series best 877 laps led this season in the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. With seven races remaining on the schedule he is tied for the most top-five finishes (10) which is only two off his career season high mark set in 2021.<\/p>\n

The 25-year old Charlotte resident has bettered himself statistically in each of his six seasons at NASCAR\u2019s elite level. And this year, he concedes, that would mean advancing to the Championship 4 for the first time. With his statistically achievements and the powerful, multi-championship Hendrick organization behind him, Byron is optimistic he could be vying for this NASCAR Cup Series championship come November.<\/p>\n

Although he stopped short of predicting a trophy Saturday at Texas Motor Speedway, he remarked that his crew chief Rudy Fugle \u201cwas working on Christmas Eve\u201d to prepare for the 2023 season. And it appears that kind of team effort is paying off.<\/p>\n

\u201cTrying to enjoy what we\u2019ve accomplished doesn\u2019t work for me,\u2019\u2019 Byron said. \u201cI haven\u2019t thought about how good a season it\u2019s been or anything like that. Definitely not where my mind is. In November I might look back and reflect and say it was a good year, but there\u2019s still so much to accomplish and we\u2019re just starting to get into the meat of the season.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like each year has been that steady progression, that steady learning curve so I just want to keep that going and make that next step,\u2019\u2019 he added. \u201cI think there\u2019s a great opportunity and that our team is the best it\u2019s ever been, so we\u2019re definitely really capable.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ByronNCS092323.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

KYLE BUSCH HANDS OVER THE BLACK HAT<\/b><\/p>\n

Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Busch grinned and acknowledged that this season, his former teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing, Hamlin, has essentially replaced him as the series\u2019 resident \u201cvillain.\u201d  The three-time DAYTONA 500 winner and last week\u2019s Bristol, Tenn. race winner is now receiving more boos during driver introductions than Busch, who for seasons essentially held the role of NASCAR\u2019s \u201cbad boy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure I could put myself right back into that category pretty easily, it only takes something spectacular to do, right,\u2019\u2019 said a smiling Busch, whose four Texas wins are most in the field and goes into Sunday afternoon\u2019s race ranked sixth in the championship in his first season driving the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s different,\u2019\u2019 he said. \u201cI don\u2019t know if I\u2019ve ever been in this spot because when I first came into this sport, my brother had made a lot of enemies on and off the race track so I was kind of thrown into that right off the bat. But it\u2019s been good to just be in a different light. It\u2019s been fun over at RCR and a lot of people have told me about the excitement around that and me being part of the 8 car.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust keep rolling with it. When you\u2019re in that spot \u2013 like I was and Denny is – you\u2019ve got to do what Denny is doing. You\u2019ve got to just play with it and just roll with it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s fun to watch. I\u2019m not the villain anymore.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BuschNCS092323.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying – AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400<\/strong><\/p>\n

Texas Motor Speedway<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fort Worth, Texas<\/strong><\/p>\n

Saturday, September 23, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n

                   1. (23) Bubba Wallace (P) @, Toyota, 188.337 mph.<\/p>\n

                   2. (17) Chris Buescher (P) @, Ford, 188.081 mph.<\/p>\n

                   3. (6) Brad Keselowski (P) @, Ford, 187.891 mph.<\/p>\n

                   4. (54) Ty Gibbs #, Toyota, 187.761 mph.<\/p>\n

                   5. (1) Ross Chastain (P) @, Chevrolet, 187.702 mph.<\/p>\n

                   6. (16) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 187.350 mph.<\/p>\n

                   7. (8) Kyle Busch (P) @, Chevrolet, 186.948 mph.<\/p>\n

                   8. (99) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 186.948 mph.<\/p>\n

                   9. (20) Christopher Bell (P) @, Toyota, 186.896 mph.<\/p>\n

                   10. (11) Denny Hamlin (P) @, Toyota, 0.000 mph.<\/p>\n

                   11. (5) Kyle Larson (P) @, Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.<\/p>\n

                   12. (43) Erik Jones, Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.<\/p>\n

                   13. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.<\/p>\n

                   14. (48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.<\/p>\n

                   15. (45) Tyler Reddick (P) @, Toyota, 0.000 mph.<\/p>\n

                   16. (19) Martin Truex  Jr. (P) @, Toyota, 0.000 mph.<\/p>\n

                   17. (34) Michael McDowell, Ford, 0.000 mph.<\/p>\n

                   18. (24) William Byron (P) @, Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.<\/p>\n

                   19. (42) Carson Hocevar(i), Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.<\/p>\n

                   20. (22) Joey Logano, Ford, 0.000 mph.<\/p>\n

                   21. (10) Aric Almirola, Ford, 0.000 mph.<\/p>\n

                   22. (4) Kevin Harvick, Ford, 0.000 mph.<\/p>\n

                   23. (12) Ryan Blaney (P) @, Ford, 0.000 mph.<\/p>\n

                   24. (47) Ricky Stenhouse  Jr., Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.<\/p>\n

                   25. (41) Ryan Preece, Ford, 0.000 mph.<\/p>\n

                   26. (77) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.<\/p>\n

                   27. (7) Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.<\/p>\n

                   28. (31) Justin Haley, Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.<\/p>\n

                   29. (9) Chase Elliott (P), Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.<\/p>\n

                   30. (21) Harrison Burton, Ford, 0.000 mph.<\/p>\n

                   31. (14) Chase Briscoe, Ford, 0.000 mph.<\/p>\n

                   32. (2) Austin Cindric, Ford, 0.000 mph.<\/p>\n

                   33. (38) Zane Smith(i), Ford, 0.000 mph.<\/p>\n

                   34. (78) BJ McLeod(i), Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.<\/p>\n

                   35. (15) JJ Yeley(i), Ford, 0.000 mph.<\/p>\n

                   36. (51) Todd Gilliland, Ford, 0.000 mph.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Holly Cain NASCAR Wire Service FORT WORTH, Texas \u2013 Bubba Wallace turned in a dramatic final lap of NASCAR Cup Series qualifying at Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday to claim the pole position for Sunday\u2019s AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 (3:30 p.m. ET, USA Network, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Wallace\u2019s qualifying lap of 188.337 mph […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":43419,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11],"tags":[414,16,21],"class_list":["post-43415","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-bubba-wallace","tag-nascar","tag-texas-motor-speedway"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1697378988-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-bif","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43415","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43415"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43415\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43427,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43415\/revisions\/43427"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43419"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43415"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43415"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43415"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}