Bubba Wallace signs multi-year contract extension with 23XI Racing
In some exciting NASCAR news on Wednesday, Bubba Wallace and 23XI Racing have announced a multi-year contract extension for the No. 23 Toyota wheelman.
Since the team’s foray into the NASCAR Cup Series, Wallace has been their star driver, even if Tyler Reddick overshadowed him a bit in 2024, winning the regular season title in the No. 45. Regardless, it’s evident 23XI believes in Wallace’s talent, and he’ll continue to cultivate it with the Toyota team moving forward.
“From day one Bubba has been an integral part of 23XI,” 23XI Racing posted on X. “We’re excited to announce that he has signed a multi-year renewal and will continue to play a key role in helping 23XI grow and succeed. #ForwardTogether.”
Moreover, Wallace joined the team run by fellow driver Denny Hamlin and basketball legend Michael Jordan ahead of the 2021 campaign. Since then, Wallace has been to Victory Lane twice, winning at Talladega and Kansas. However, he’s also faced his share of challenges, like missing the playoffs this past season.
Moving forward, Wallace will hope to take the next step towards becoming an elite driver in the Cup Series, doing so with more consistency, especially at tracks like road courses. He’s been hard on himself his whole career, so it’s easy to see why 23XI believes Wallace can be even better moving forward.
At the least, the 30-year-old wheelman is locked in for another couple of seasons with 23XI Racing, and the future is bright for Bubba Wallace in the No. 23.
NASCAR insider sheds new light into potential third driver for 23XI Racing in 2025
Meanwhile, 23XI Racing was one of two Cup Series teams not to sign NASCAR‘s final charter offer earlier this month, however, all signs point to the upstart team expanding to three full-time charters in 2025.
Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports provided an update Tuesday on who will possibly join 23XI in a full-time capacity in a charter likely acquired from Stewart-Haas Racing. Pockrass mentioned Riley Herbst, who has strong sponsorship with Monster Energy. Monster already has a relationship with 23XI, and Pockrass believes that marriage makes the most sense. Pockrass added that 23XI has been hiring employees for a third car next year despite the uncertainty with the charter situation.
“With the team already having a Monster Energy relationship, adding Riley Herbst and his Monster deal would make sense. But Herbst has indicated his future is still not set,” Pockrass wrote. “Corey Heim is the team’s driver of the future. But he might be a year or two away from being fully Cup ready. Despite the charter drama, 23XI Racing has been hiring employees to fill a third car for next year.”
Herbst currently competes full-time in the Xfinity Series for SHR. The 25-year-old took the checkered flag at Indianapolis in July and is guaranteed a spot in the playoffs which begin at Kansas on Saturday, Sept. 28. Herbst has eight Cup Series starts under his belt, tallying two top 10s.