After an impressive showing last weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Bubba Wallace has carried that momentum into Martinsville Speedway, posting the fastest lap in NASCAR Cup Series practice. The 23XI Racing driver topped the speed charts, edging out Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin, who rounded out the top three.
Wallace Sets the Pace
Wallace’s No. 23 Toyota showed serious speed throughout the session, and his performance suggests he could be a contender this weekend at the tight half-mile paperclip. Martinsville has been a track where Toyota has performed well in recent years, and Wallace’s ability to find pace early could be a sign of things to come.
His strong lap puts him ahead of fellow Toyota driver Christopher Bell, who is no stranger to success at Martinsville, having won at the track in 2022 during the playoffs. Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin—Wallace’s team owner and a five-time Martinsville winner—clocked in third, reinforcing the Joe Gibbs Racing and 23XI Racing alliance’s strength on short tracks.
Building on Homestead’s Momentum
Last weekend at Homestead, Wallace impressed with his race pace and ability to contend inside the top 10 for much of the day. While he ultimately fell short of a victory, his performance proved that he and the No. 23 team are finding consistency at the right time. Now, leading practice at Martinsville could set the stage for a strong qualifying run and potentially his first win of the season.
Looking Ahead
With practice speeds now on the board, all eyes turn to qualifying to see if Wallace can translate his practice speed into a prime starting position. Track position is crucial at Martinsville, where passing can be difficult, and pit strategy often determines race outcomes.
Could this be the weekend Bubba Wallace breaks through for his first Martinsville victory? If his practice pace is any indication, he’ll be one to watch when the green flag drops.
