11/12/2016
Incident Ends Wallace’s Strong Night Early in Phoenix
PHOENIX, Az. (Nov. 12, 2016) – Bubba Wallace, driver of the No. 6 Leidos Ford Mustang, ran inside the top 10 for much of the NASCAR XFINITY Series event at Phoenix International Raceway on Saturday night before getting collected in a multi-car incident on Lap 148, ending the Roush Fenway Racing driver’s night early.
“Just circumstances took us out,” said Wallace after the race. “It is just unfortunate. My team gave me a great race car, the best Leidos Mustang we have had all year long and we were making the most of it. That was one of my best restarts all year. It was just taken away from us. The biggest picture is that I hope granny had fun because I sure did and I can’t thank her enough for giving me that ride. It was fun. We will go on to Homestead. We have gotten it done there before and we will go do it again.”
Wallace took the green flag from the fifth position after advancing to the third round of knockout qualifying on Saturday afternoon. In the early stages of the event, Wallace reported to crew chief Seth Barbour that the Leidos Mustang was a little free on the exit of the corner. Crew chief Barbour then decided to utilize a Lap 48 caution to bring Wallace to pit road for four tires and a chassis adjustment.
Wallace took the ensuing restart from seventh and maintained his top-10 track position until the caution came out once again on Lap 92. After pitting for four fresh tires during the caution the driver of the No. 6 Leidos Mustang returned to the track in sixth and immediately charged forward, joining the top-five for the first time on Lap 113. Wallace’s climb continued as he raced up to fourth before the caution flag flew on Lap 137.
Crew chief Barbour took advantage of this caution to bring Wallace to pit road for the last set of sticker tires. The Roush Fenway driver left pit road in ninth following the stop as several of the race leaders opted for right-side tires. Despite the loss of track position Wallace utilized a three-wide move on the Lap 147 restart to move into a battle for sixth before contact coming off of the fourth turn sent the Leidos Mustang head-on into the inside retaining wall.
Following the contact, it was deemed that the damage was too severe to repair, ending Wallace’s night early.
In the end, Wallace was scored in the 32nd position.
Next up for the NASCAR XFINITY Series is the 2016 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday, Nov. 19.
#
NEXT UP:
1.5-Mile Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead, Florida
Saturday, November 19, 2016
3:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN and MRN
RACE SUMMARY
Bubba Wallace
Started: Fifth
Finished: 32nd
Complete Race Results:
