Bubba Wallace's shot at $1,000,000 comes up short in 2024 NASCAR All-Star race with P6 finish

23XI Racing driver Bubba Wallace finished the NASCAR All-Star race in P6 despite gaining 13 places throughout the length of the race. He made minimal mistakes in the race but fell short of victory as Joey Logano led 199 of the 200 laps.

The #23 Toyota driver started the race in 19th position but was able to get into the top 10 by lap 125. He was a lap down early in the race after a pitstop but was back in contention after sharing a battle with Logano as he led the race. With less than 35 laps to go in the 200-lap event, Wallace brought himself up to sixth position, however, he could not go any further than that.

Bubba Wallace was stuck behind Ryan Blaney for the remaining part of the race. The race was not a part of the Cup Series Championship but the winner, Joey Logano, was awarded $1 million.

Wallace, however, had come to the race with different expectations. He finished second in the competition last season and was hoping to win it with a different strategy. He said prior to the race:

"We were back there together last year and he [Kyle Larson] smoked my as*, he smoked our as* the whole race so I'm going to just ride in behind him and try to stay closer this time." (0:48)

Bubba Wallace did manage to get close to Kyle Larson in the race. He was within two seconds of the Hendrick Motorsports driver as he finished in fourth and Wallace followed him in sixth.

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Bubba Wallace's Playoffs chances hang by a thread with no wins so far

The 30-year-old has not won a race since 2022, and this season he currently sits in sixteenth place with no race wins. Moreover, he has not won a stage either. Eight different drivers have already won a race this season and they will be stronger contenders for the Playoffs compared to how Wallace has performed so far in the season.

While he has been competitive, Bubba Wallace has led only 35 laps in the 13 Cup Series rounds so far and has faced 2 DNFs as well. He was a top-five finisher in three races (Daytona, Atlanta, and Martinsville).

The #23 driver would require a race win to have stronger chances for the Playoffs, which he seems to be far off from right now. Meanwhile, his teammate Tyler Reddick has already won a race (Talladega). Adding to that are two stage wins and with a total of 305 laps led, he currently sits at sixth place in the championship.