By Luis Torres, Staff Writer/Photographer
Bubba Wallace entered this weekend’s Cook Out Clash as one of several drivers who’ve previously raced at Bowman Gray Stadium.
When the dust settled after 200 intense laps where a series of aggressive driving and bumper tags occurred, Wallace begins the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season with a fifth-place result.
A particular outcome he does count despite being an exhibition race considering his remarks regarding his No. 23 Leidos Toyota Camry XSE missing a step in terms of his car handling in a distasteful way.
Furthermore, the tires being his Kryptonite as the tires brought by Goodyear were the same ones the Cup Series ran at Martinsville Speedway.
“We will count it. All-in-all, a good day – we were still missing it on something,” said Wallace. “This tire was also from Martinsville in the fall. I didn’t like the car then. I don’t like the car now, but you have to fight for it.
“I need to look back on what I need to do better with this tire. I think it is more me than the car – just getting the potential, but all-in-all, it was a fun night. Crowd was loud and proud, and it was a good time.”
Rolling off 14th in the main event, Wallace had an eventful night at 1/3-mile circuit where he moved his way up through the field.
However, there was a point in the race where Wallace had a moment with another driver. That moment took place on Lap 120 when he and Joey Logano were battling for position, but an opening was created when they tried splitting lanes which left Brad Keselowski in a vulnerable spot.
Contact between Wallace and Keselowski sent the latter around in Turn 1, bringing out the seventh and final caution of the night. In typical short-track chaos, an accordion effect took place as Alex Bowman, Carson Hocevar, Todd Gilliland, and Chase Briscoe were involved in the melee behind Keselowski.
Briscoe’s night was done due to the follow-up incident while everyone else, including Keselowski continued their race. But the contact from Wallace affected Keselowski’s night as he never recovered from the tangle and finished 21st.
“I hate that I got into (Keselowski). I didn’t want to get a top-five finish that way,” Wallace on the contact with Keselowski.
“He was doing everything he could to get down – and I got greedy and wanted to fill the hole. I really didn’t think I hit him that hard, but obviously I did, so I apologize for that.”
From there, Wallace’s No. 23 Toyota worked…
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