JOLIET, Ill. (June 21, 2015) – Bubba Wallace earned his fifth top-10 finish of the 2015 NASCAR XFINITY Series season after crossing the line 10th in an eventful Sundayafternoon, rain-postponed race at Chicagoland Speedway.
Saturday afternoon’s qualifying session netted Wallace and the No. 6 Roush Performance Mustang a 10th-place starting spot. As storms developed later in the evening on Saturday, NASCAR was forced to postpone the race until Sunday morning.
Wallace took the green flag under sunny skies, reporting early in the run that his Mustang was too loose, lacking front and rear grip. When the competition caution flew on Lap 25, Wallace visited pit road from 12th, for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment.
Wallace lined up 12th for the restart, but dropped back to 18th, reporting to his team that his Roush Performance Mustang was still much too free. As the run progressed, Wallace adjusted his driving line, radioing to the team that he was able to find some grip on the high side, but still needed more.
On Lap 79, Wallace visited pit road for four tires, fuel and some major chassis adjustments. Wallace lined up 26th for the Lap 86 restart. After a spin with minor contact on Lap 97, Wallace was forced to visit pit road for repairs and adjustments. Under that run his Mustang was too tight, so crew chief Chad Norris called for four tires, fuel and a spring rubber adjustment. Wallace and the No. 6 team visited pit road two more times under the caution period for more adjustments and to top off on fuel.
On Lap 102, Wallace lined up 29th for the restart. When the caution flag waved again 25 laps later, Norris opted to have his driver stay out on the track as the leaders visited pit road. This allowed Wallace to take the wave around and get back on the lead lap.
Back on the lead lap in 26th, Wallace took the green flag on Lap 144, just 20 laps away from requiring a pit stop for fuel. A timely caution allowed Wallace to visit pit road on Lap 150 for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. The No. 6 Roush Performance Mustang would gain even more track position as several of the lead lap cars were penalized after visiting pit road while it was closed.
With the caution and luck on pit road, Wallace lined up third for the restart on Lap 159. Battling a Mustang that was too free on long runs, Wallace would ultimately cross the finish line in 10th.
Wallace remains fifth in the NASCAR XFINITY Series point standings, as the series enters the last off weekend of the season until October.
NEXT UP:
Subway Firecracker 250
2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway
Daytona, Fla.
Saturday, July 4, 2015
7:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network and MRN
RACE SUMMARY
Bubba Wallace
Started: 10
Finished: 10
Complete Race Results:
POINTS SUMMARY
Bubba Wallace
2015 Season Total: Fifth with 462 points
2015 SEASON SUMMARY
Bubba Wallace
Starts Wins Top-Fives Top-10s Poles
14 0 1 5 1
