Bubba Wallace finished second at the NASCAR Cup Series' Anduril 250 on June 22, after a gritty comeback drive at Naval Base Coronado.
What happened?
Wallace started 12th and worked his way up to second place within 10 laps, but a detached right-front wheel at Lap 19 forced him to pit road and earned him a two-lap penalty.
Road to recovery
He rebounded from the setback, eventually finishing second behind Corey Heim, his part-time teammate at 23XI Racing.
Wallace jumped two spots to 11th in the points standings after his second top-three finish in the last three weeks.
Mixed emotions
Despite the impressive result, Wallace couldn't shake the thought of what could have been, settling for second and wondering about the possibilities.
He appreciated the efforts of his team, including crew chief Charles Denike and the sim room staff, who helped him prepare for the road course.
The 23XI Racing driver acknowledged the penalty was a setback, but he was proud of his team's performance, which included a 1-2 finish.
Looking ahead
Wallace will look to build on his recent success, having earned two top-three finishes in the last three weeks, as he continues to develop as a road racer.
He will aim to capitalize on his momentum and move up the points standings in the coming weeks.
The NASCAR Cup Series will continue on June 29, with Wallace seeking to improve his road-course skills and earn another strong finish.