Bubba Wallace "paid the price on our front tires" in battle for Vegas win
Bubba Wallace had the opportunity to end his year-long winless streak on Sunday, and appeared to be in a great position following the final round of pit stops. Wallace was directly behind race leader Chase Briscoe, and had strong pace in the No. 23 Toyota. He crept closer with every passing lap, but the defining moment came with 29 laps to go. Wallace was all over the back bumper of Briscoe's ...…
Bubba Wallace's quest for a victory after a mid-race penalty saw him close in on race leader Chase Briscoe in the final stages of the Las Vegas NASCAR Cup race. However, a crucial error in the final laps proved costly for Wallace. With just 29 laps remaining, Wallace attempted a late move on Briscoe's car in Turn 1, but the move backfired as Briscoe closed in and Wallace's car skidded up the track.
Overworked front tires and extreme cording issues soon dropped Wallace from second to eighth place in the final running order. Despite starting the race as a top five contender, Wallace had to resort to survival mode just to ensure his team completed the race. Wallace's final lap was notably slower than his competitors, highlighting the impact of the tire issues.
Reflecting on the race, Wallace attributed his position to Briscoe's superior car performance, stating, "His car was just good enough to keep that buffer out in front of us." Wallace expressed his disappointment over the tire problems, which ultimately led to his fall from second place. Despite the setback, Wallace praised the pit crew's performance, acknowledging it as a hard-fought day.
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