Bubba Wallace points to moment where shot at New Hampshire Cup win slipped away

Bubba Wallace secured his second runner-up finish of the 2026 NASCAR Cup season at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, coming impressively close to an actual victory. With just five laps remaining, Wallace found himself only a couple of car lengths behind eventual winner Ryan Blaney. However, Wallace made a critical mistake by locking up his front tires in Turn 3, losing precious ground during the final push for the win.

Reflecting on the missed opportunity, Wallace expressed his disappointment, stating, "I picked up a big vibration on the left front. That was kind of it, so didn't need to make our great day go to crap and just salvage what we had." He also acknowledged the challenge of competing against the faster Team Penske Ford cars, particularly in the closing laps where traffic became intense. Wallace explained, "the traffic was tough. Just tried too hard there around the 41 (Custer) and locked up and picked up a big vibration."

Despite the disappointing finish, Wallace remains optimistic about his chances at Daytona, sitting 75 points above the cut-line. He emphasized the importance of staying focused and dealing with the handling quirks of his Toyota, saying, "We kind of knew the first 25, 30 laps, they were better than us. And then we kind of leveled off. And so, I was just trying my hardest just to stay close within those first 25, and I think I just have to overcook my stuff."