“Two more left”: Bubba Wallace reacts after early exit from Michigan increases playoff pressure 

AUTO: JUN 22 NASCAR Cup Series USA Today 301 - Source: Getty
Bubba Wallace in NASCAR Cup Series USA Today 301 (Source: Getty)

Bubba Wallace is feeling the pressure of making it in the playoffs, perhaps like never before, with two races to go. As the 23XI Racing driver walked toward the victory lane to congratulate his teammate Tyler Reddick for winning Monday's FireKeepers Casino 400, Bob Pockrass grabbed the opportunity to interview the Alabama native.

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A wreck initiated by Hendrick Motorsports icon Kyle Larson made Wallace settle for a disappointing 26th-place finish. Larson started the race fourth but fell to P14 by the end of Stage 1.

In an attempt to gain positions following a restart on lap 115, the Elk Grove native started a massive pile-up, which caught Wallace and several others like Joey Logano, Chris Buescher, Christopher Bell, Tod Gilliland and Chase Briscoe.

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Bubba Wallace thanked his team for their efforts but explained that only a win can save them from missing out on a second consecutive playoff appearance.

"The guys did a good job," he told Pockrass. "That's all I can ask for. Show speed, be competitive, put your name in the hat. That's what we did so thank you. Two more left. Didn't matter if we ran second today. Still got two more left."
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Bubba Wallace is one point behind the provisional playoff cutline. Therefore, a couple of strong finishes or perhaps a win at Daytona or Darlington could streamline his entry in the postseason.


Tyler Reddick reflects on racing with Bubba Wallace

It's not new for teammates to work together and help each other during races. Tyler Reddick, who drives the No. 45 Toyota Camry, and Bubba Wallace are teammates who often help each other at practice and on the track.

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After winning his second race of the season, Reddick explained how racing with Bubba Wallace has helped him.

"It was great for us and our group on the 45 to be able to start that process a year early and begin to learn each other and learn what we need to work on and improve. It’s really helped for year two," Reddick said in a post-race interview (via On3).
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As Reddick parked his car in the victory lane, Wallace walked up to him and congratulated his teammate. Here's the footage uploaded by 23XI Racing that shows the interaction:

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"Me and Bubba are really fast in practice. Doesn’t always work out in the race, right? The capability of our cars are really, really high. They allow us to run inside the top five, have speed to get out front, be able to hold onto the lead as well," he added.

Tyler Reddick leads the field on points (814). He has led a combined 472 laps this year and has 11 top 5s and 17 top 10s.

Get the latest NASCAR All-Star race news, Xfinity Series updates, breaking news, rumors, and today’s top stories with the latest news on NASCAR.

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Edited by Bhargav
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