Bubba Wallace reacts to an “unreal” photo finish between fellow NASCAR drivers at Tulsa Shootout main event

23XI Racing driver Bubba Wallace responded to the thrilling showdown between fellow NASCAR drivers Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell on the final lap of the 2025 Tulsa Shootout finale at Tulsa Expo Raceway. Wallace described the epic battle between Larson and Bell that ended in a photo finish as “unreal,” where Bell outduels Larson to win Tulsa Shootout on his return to dirt racing.

The battle between Larson and Bell was the main highlight of the 55-lap Non-Wing Outlaw main event on Saturday night as the two showcased their exceptional dirt racing skills.

Bubba Wallace was following the Tulsa Shootout action. He quickly reacted to the Larson-Bell wild battle and praised the intensity of the race at SageNet Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

“Unreal. Those 2 are badasses,” Wallace wrote on X.

With three laps remaining in the Tulsa Shootout, Christopher Bell held a sizeable lead over Kyle Larson, who was running behind him, but the Hendrick Motorsports driver made a valiant charge on the following lap.

In a close last-lap battle, Larson gave a tough fight for the lead, but he couldn’t surpass Bell despite a lunge in the final corner. Bell ultimately secured a 0.188-second win against one of his biggest rivals in NASCAR and in dirt racing.

It marked Bell’s fifth Golden Driller, with three previous Chili Bowl Nationals wins and two at Tulsa Shoutout.

Although 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Larson finished runner-up in the main event, his 2025 Tulsa Shootout’s campaign was impressive. He secured two Golden Drillers trophies in one night after winning the 30-lap Winged Outlaws and the 30-lap Winged A-Class Feature.

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How Bubba Wallace performed in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season

Bubba Wallace, driving the #23 Toyota in his fourth season for 23XI Racing, had an abysmal 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season. He finished 18th in the Cup Series points standings with six top-five and 14 top-10 finishes while having three DNFs with an average finish of 15.2 in 36 races. He wrapped the season with a seventh-place finish at Phoenix Raceway.

In 255 NASCAR Cup Series starts, Bubba Wallace had scored three poles, two wins, and 46 top-10 finishes. After a disappointing season, he will look to bounce back to end his 43-race-long winless streak in the 2025 season.

Catch Bubba Wallace in action at the pre-season exhibition event at the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on February 2.