Bubba Wallace has agreed on a multi-year contract extension with 23XI Racing, the team revealed on Wednesday. The team expressed their enthusiasm for the continuation of Wallace’s involvement, highlighting his importance in 23XI’s growth and success. Despite not making the Cup Series playoffs this season, Wallace is set to compete at Bristol Motor Speedway without a win so far this year and currently ranks 19th in the standings for the upcoming elimination race on Saturday night.

Wallace has been a part of 23XI Racing from the beginning, with the team coming into existence when Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan decided to partner and establish a NASCAR team focused on Wallace, following social media speculation. Although Wallace secured two victories in 2021, he has not won any races this year. Notably, he qualified for the playoffs for the first time in his career last season and achieved a personal best 10th place in the final standings, maintaining his position as the only Black driver in NASCAR’s top tier.

This year, 23XI Racing claimed the regular-season title with driver Tyler Reddick, who currently stands at sixth place in the playoff group of 16 drivers. However, at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday, four drivers will face elimination from the title race, with team co-owner Hamlin, who races for Joe Gibbs Racing, among those at risk of elimination.