August 12, 2022 | By Lee Spencer

Bubba Wallace's future is bright after contract extension with 23XI Racing

Bubba Wallace will continue to build on his recent success at 23XI Racing.

The team announced on Friday that the 28-year-old racer has signed a multi-year contract extension.

Wallace, who is currently 19th in the NASCAR Cup standings, was the first driver selected by 23XI when the team—co-owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan—debuted the No. 23 Toyota in 2021.

“Bubba was a key part of the early stages of 23XI, and I am thrilled that he will continue with the team,” Hamlin said. “When we announced Bubba as our first driver the goal was to help him take his career to a higher level, and we have done just that.

“Bubba and the No. 23 team earned the organization our first win and first pole award, and with a career-best four consecutive top-10 finishes heading into Richmond this weekend, Bubba is continuing to get more competitive each week. We’re excited to see his growth as he and the team work toward achieving our goals.”

Wallace is having a breakout season in his fifth full year on the tour. He’s the only Cup driver to have finished in the top 10 in his last four starts. Wallace scored the team’s first win last fall at Talladega Superspeedway and their first pole at Michigan International Speedway last weekend.

"It feels great to get this renewal done and to know I have a home at 23XI Racing,” Wallace said. "Thanks to M.J. and Denny for continuing to believe in me. We’ve come a long way together in less than two years and we’ve checked off some major goals along the way - including the team’s first win and first pole.

“We know we still have work to do, both on and off the race track, but I feel good about our team and the direction we’re heading.”

Wallace honed his racing skills in the K&N Pro Series East tour where he started at 16. In three full seasons, Wallace scored six wins, 16 top fives, and 25 top 10s in 36 starts. His second-place finish in the standings in 2011 was a career-best. Wallace graduated to the Camping World Truck Series where he won five races driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports under the Toyota banner. His best result in the standings was third in 2014, his sophomore season.

Despite two-and-a-half winless seasons in the Xfinity Series with Roush Fenway Motorsports, Wallace was selected to sub for Aric Almirola at Richard Petty Motorsports. While he showed tremendous promise in his three seasons behind the wheel of the No. 43 Chevrolet, Wallace would not win his first Cup race until he returned to Toyota last season with 23XI Racing.

Wallace is quite involved in NASCAR’s diversity program. He’s been involved with the Dr. Pepper 23XI Speed Institute Tuition Program, Embrace Home Loans’ Wider Path Home/23XI Racing Down Payment Assistance Grant and Bubba’s Block Party--an initiative to attract new fans to the sport.