Denny Hamlin sets new ‘expectation and standard’ for Bubba Wallace after multi-year contract extension
23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin shared his expectations for Bubba Wallace with the new two-year contract extension.
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Denny Hamlin and Bubba Wallace (Via IMAGO)
Bubba Wallace came into the 2024 season with the hopes of improving on his career best performance the precious year. But things went south for him most of races as his consistency alongside the mistakes from the No:23 crew cost him wins as well as solid points days. He missed out on the playoff and to make things worse, his teammate Tyler Reddick won the regular season championship.
But Bubba Wallace did perform enough to earn the trust of 23XI Racing. So, they gave him a multi-year contract extension, despite the issues the teams have over charter agreement. Now the team’s co-owner Denny Hamlin has shared his take on the new deal and what they expect from the Toyota driver.
23XI Racing announced a contract extension for Bubba Wallace earlier this week. What team co-owner Denny Hamlin said about extending Wallace, who failed to make the playoffs this year. pic.twitter.com/QiduNZGJrG
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) September 21, 2024
He pointed out that the No:23 team needs to make into the playoffs every year and the expectation for them is a top 10 finish at the end. Denny Hamlin believes this is the minimum the TRD star should do with the team, considering they have set that standard for them since their debut in the series in 2021.
Yeah, I mean the 23 team needs to make the playoffs every year. I think that that’s our expectation and then make a deep run and finish in the top ten in points. That’s kind of our expectation of where we’re at right now. Just getting in, it’s hard for me to say that that’d be the only expectation but it is an expectation given the standards that we’re giving ourselves.Denny Hamlin told Fox Sports.
Denny Hamlin asserts 2024 has been worse than 2023 for Bubba Wallace
While further talking about the point, Denny Hamlin pointed out that Bubba Wallace knows he needs to get better and as long as he understands it, 23XI can have a better future. He also asserted that at the end of the current season his star drivers’ overall finish won’t look good.
He knows he needs to get better, I think he has gotten better, so as long as he continues that. Last year when he made it in on driver points he was 14th, this year 12th. While it won’t look great in the final box score because once you get in who knows where you go, you know your floor is only 16th.Denny Hamlin added.
He further stated that the end result is going to look worse for the 2023, but the stats proves that hie and the team improved. The only thing left is making the next-big step and it will be interesting see if they can accomplish that.
Certainly, this year the end results going to look worse than last year but we know given the stats he’s had, laps led, all that, everything has improved over what he had last year. Just got to take that next step.Denny Hamlin said.
There are seven more races left in the season for Bubba Wallace to prove he deserve the extension by securing a race win. If he can play spoiler in the playoff for the championship favorite and it will be interesting how the 23XI team will perform.
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Justin P Joy
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