© Joe Puetz /Imagn
Bubba Wallace haters rejoice. The polarizing NASCAR star may soon have to retire if he intends to live up to a deal he made with fellow driver Shane Van Gisbergen.
Wallace, who is having the best year of his eight-year career to date, hit a bit of a stumbling block this weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
After easily progressing through the opening round of the Cup Series playoffs, he began the second round by qualifying in 14th position. That alone wouldn’t be so bad. But the effort was bested by rookie foe Shane Van Gisbergen.
Van Gisbergen, who has four victories this season, all of which came on road courses, qualified in 10th, a career-best for him on an oval. In doing so, he may have just ended Wallace’s career, as well.
Ole bloke out-qualified me now I gotta retire 💀 @shanevg97 pic.twitter.com/tmk6EWV5pP
— Bubba Wallace (@BubbaWallace) September 21, 2025
Shortly after qualifying, Wallace posted a text exchange between himself and Van Gisbergen.
“I haven’t seen your retirement post,” Van Gisbergen texted Wallace, who offered a confused reply.
Van Gisbergen then reminded Wallace that he said that he’d retire if Van Gisbergen ever out-qualified him on an oval. Now we find out if Wallace is a man of his word…
Bubba Wallace And Shane Van Gisbergen Both Struggled At New Hampshire
Unfortunately for both, despite solid qualifying efforts, they struggled once the race began. Van Gisbergen drove up into the top five before an early incident with Wood Brothers driver Josh Berry. He eventually finished in 32nd, while Berry came back to finish second.
Wallace, meanwhile, never seemed to find pace in the race. He quickly fell back through the pack and finished in 26th, worst of the 12 remaining playoff drivers. The 23XI Racing star now sits 27 points below the cut with two races remaining in the second round.
However, Wallace and company now head to Kansas Speedway, a track where he picked up a victory for 23XI in 2022.