Most NASCAR drivers would gladly take a second-place finish on a new street course.
Bubba Wallace wasn’t one of them.
Wallace crossed the finish line second behind teammate Corey Heim in Sunday’s inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race on the San Diego Street Course, giving 23XI Racing a historic 1-2 finish. It was one of the organization’s strongest overall performances of the season.
But when Wallace climbed from the No. 23 Toyota after the race, his focus wasn’t on what his team accomplished.
It was on what got away.
Bubba Wallace Couldn’t Stop Thinking About the ‘What-Ifs’
Wallace admitted frustration was the overwhelming emotion after the checkered flag.
“I was super frustrated,” Wallace told reporters.
While a runner-up finish would typically be viewed as a successful day, Wallace said San Diego felt like another race where victory was within reach but ultimately slipped away.
“So many races this year had results with asterisk marks besides them,” Wallace said. “Like the what-ifs.”
That thought has followed Wallace throughout much of the 2026 season. The speed has often been there, but the results have not always matched the performance.
Sunday’s race only added to that feeling.
One Mistake Still Stuck With Him
Wallace pointed to a costly mistake during the race that he believed changed the outcome.
“After every race we do a debrief,” Wallace said. “I hate it, I hate it for my crew. This one little mistake cost us the next couple of weeks.”
The comment reflected how closely teams examine every detail after a race, especially when they believe a win was realistic.
Despite the disappointment, Wallace acknowledged there were positives to take away from the afternoon.
“I really had fun today in the car,” he said. “I don’t know, it worked out.”
Still, the frustration remained difficult to hide.
“I’m frustrated with second,” Wallace added. “There’s so much potential left on the table.”
Wallace Was Happy to See Corey Heim Get His Moment
Even though he wanted the victory himself, Wallace made it clear he was genuinely happy for Heim.
The 23-year-old delivered the first Cup Series victory of his career in just his fifth start while helping 23XI Racing secure the first 1-2 finish in team history.
“Super happy for him,” Wallace said. “He’s put in so much work when he’s off behind the scenes.”
Wallace also spoke about the relationship the two drivers have developed through Toyota’s driver pipeline and within the 23XI organization.
“Him and I have a really good relationship,” Wallace said. “He beat me today. So he’ll have that bragging right.”
In the end, Wallace recognized the bigger picture.
“Great day for 23XI.”
But his final thought summed up the mindset of a driver who believes bigger opportunities are still ahead.
“Onto Sonoma.”
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