NASCAR Insider Reveals Bubba Wallace Took Benefit of Chase Elliott’s Loss

The 2023 Cup Sequence has unfurled a tapestry of contrasting fortunes for Hendrick Motorsports. Whereas William Byron and Kyle Larson experience the crest of the playoff standings wave, their teammates, Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman, discover themselves within the precarious place of just under the playoff edge.

Conversely, the nascent NASCAR Cup Sequence staff, 23XI, has charted a formidable course. Each their stalwarts, Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick, comfortably anchor spots 14 and 12 within the playoffs. Nevertheless, one NASCAR supply has speculated that the tactical acumen that helped Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan’s racing staff succeed might have been to the detriment of Hendrick Motorsports’ racers.

NASCAR insider discloses how 23XI Racing seized alternatives from Chase Elliott’s hurdles

Tyler Reddick, due to his triumph on the Circuit of the Americas (COTA), has clinched the P12 within the playoff standings. In the meantime, Bubba Wallace dances on the razor’s fringe of the standings desk, claiming the sixteenth slot. Theoretically, if Daytona doesn’t witness a recent face clinching victory and a playoff-qualified driver takes the laurels, Wallace stays comfortably nestled throughout the top-16.

But, transferring past mere technicalities, NASCAR’s oracle, Brett Griffin, lately opined on 23XI’s 2023 Cup Sequence trajectory. Directing his observations in the direction of Bubba Wallace’s spotter, Freddie Kraft, Griffin posited that their success within the sequence wasn’t solely the fruit of their onerous work. As a substitute, the missteps and mishaps of the Hendrick Motorsports drivers, who missed a number of pivotal races, finally paved the way in which for Wallace’s ascent.

To borrow Griffin’s phrasing, “You might be on this place as a result of Chase Elliott snowboarded and right-reared someone on objective. You might be on this place as a result of Alex Bowman bought harm. Look, one man’s misfortune is one other man’s fortune. Good for you. Nevertheless it all comes all the way down to you bought to do you bought to execute to benefit from that, or none of that issues.”

Such assertions, to some extent, ring true. If not for Chase Elliott’s early-season setback, resulting in his absence from seven races, he might need been commanding a extra enviable place both by victories or accrued factors, and 23XI might need been in a special place as of now.

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But, the NASCAR compass may expertise a shuffle, particularly if Denny Hamlin, pushed by swirling speculations over his delayed JGR staff contract, opts to steer for his personal staff. The saga continues, and solely time will inform the way it will unfold within the subsequent chapter.

Is Denny Hamlin eyeing a seat on his personal 23XI staff?

Although Denny Hamlin and the patriarch of Joe Gibbs Racing, Joe Gibbs, have persistently quashed rumors of Hamlin’s exit, the protracted delay in inking a contract extension, set to finish this yr, has tongues wagging. Deeper nonetheless, parallels are being drawn with Kyle Busch’s previous state of affairs, the place public statements belied the behind-the-scenes narrative.

It’s no secret within the NASCAR world that Hamlin holds the reins to steer his future along with his very personal 23XI staff if negotiations with JGR hit the skids. Such a transfer would undeniably usher in a brand new dynamic for the staff, as having the staff proprietor behind the wheel is a special kettle of fish.

Whispers within the corridors of NASCAR additionally trace at 23XI probably courting Zane Smith, including one other layer of intrigue to the unfolding drama. With basketball legend Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin on the helm of 23XI, the NASCAR group waits with bated breath to see how the brand new strikes on this chess recreation play out.