Bubba Wallace's GQ Profile

The NASCAR Driver on Race, Trump Tweets, and the Noose

 

 

GQ is an international monthly men's magazine based in New York City which was founded in 1931. The publication focuses on fashion, style, and culture for men, though articles on food, movies, fitness, sex, music, travel, sports, technology, and books are also featured. 

The September issues features NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace. In the profile, Wallace talks to Donavan X. Ramsey about his turbulent summer including the noose and the tweets from the President. 

Shortly after Wallace made headlines for his BLM race, a noose was found in his garage at the racetrack. He remembers NASCAR president Steve Phelps had tears in his eyes and could barely form sentences:

“I’m like, ‘What the hell’s going on?’” says Wallace. “He was like, ‘Man...the way it was worded to me, a hate crime was committed.’ I immediately thought of my family, because I’m fine. I’m like, ‘Oh, okay.’ He said there was a noose found in my garage.’” 

In the end, after an FBI investigation, no foul play was found. “Was it directed towards me? No. But was it a noose? People don’t want to listen to that second part.” The whole thing was called a hoax by many, including the President of the United States. 

“There are so many other things we could be worrying about in this world or in this country, but he wanted to take the time to send out his regards. And so be it,” Wallace says diplomatically. “I was just like, ‘You know what? I’m not even going to waste my time with this. Move on from it.’

You can read the entire feature, 'NASCAR's Unlikely Activist, here. 

Photography by Kennedi Carter

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Austin Cindric NASCAR Xfinity Win Report

August 15th, 2020 / Daytona Road Course

 

Track:    Daytona International Speedway Road Course  
Race:     UNOH 188
Date:     August 15, 2020

 
No. 22 MoneyLion Ford Mustang – Austin Cindric 
Start:  1st
Stage 1: 1st (Eighth stage win of 2020)
Stage 2: 2nd
Finish: 1st (Seventh career NXS victory)

Laps Completed: 52/52
Laps Led: 21
Point Standings (ahead of second): 1st (+48)
 
Notes: 

• Austin Cindric and the No. 22 MoneyLion Ford Mustang team were victorious in the inaugural race at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course Saturday, winning the UNOH 188. The Mooresville, N.C. native led a total of 21 laps, en route to his fifth victory in the last six races of the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) season, tying the record of Sam Ard. Cindric won for the fourth time on a road course and has finished second or better in the last six races. He leads the NXS driver standings by 48 markers ahead of second place Chase Briscoe.  
• Cindric started the weather-delayed event from the first position after the field was per the new lineup formula which uses three performance metrics of the finishing position from the previous race (weighted 50%), the ranking in team owner points standings (35%), and the fastest lap from the previous race (15%) to determine lineup and pit selection order.
• During pace laps, NASCAR decided the track was damp, allowing teams to pit and choose between slick and rain tires. Cindric started the 52-lap race on slicks once the green flag dropped. He took turn-1 wide, losing the first position but quickly regained the lead from Noah Gragson. He extended his lead before the first caution was displayed with three-laps remaining in the first stage. Cindric remained on track during the caution while most of the field came to pit road. Stage 1 restarted with a one-lap sprint and Cindric capturing his eighth stage win of the 2020 season.
• Crew chief Brian Wilson made the call to pit during the stage caution for tires, fuel and adjustments. Cindric restarted 17th after a mixture of pit strategy shuffled the running order. Cindric raced his way to the 12th position before the caution waved for the third time on lap 17. With a series of cautions throughout the 15-lap stage, Cindric was able to battle his way to the second position at the conclusion of Stage 2. During the caution, Cindric came to pit road for fuel and tires and restarted the final stage in fourth.
• Cindric quickly regained the runner-up position to race leader Chase Briscoe, where he ran until the caution was displayed on lap 42. The driver of the No. 22 MoneyLion Ford came to pit road for four fresh tires and fuel and would hold his position leaving pit road. With three cars remaining on track, Cindric would restart fifth with seven laps remaining. As the field entered turn 1, chaos struck as most of the field missed the turn and the caution was displayed once more with Cindric lining up second. He reclaimed the race lead with five laps remaining and never looked back to capture his seventh career NXS victory. 
• The NASCAR Xfinity Series is back in action with the Dover International Speedway double header. The first race will take place on Saturday, August 22 at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, MRN and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio followed by race two on Sunday, August 23 at 1:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, MRN and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.

 
Quote: "I'm not sure anyone was really happy with their race car.  Unfortunately, I have a tough perspective of driving really fast high-grip race cars at this track, but great credit to my team -- the MoneyLion guys -- and everyone that puts this together -- Ford Performance, Roush Yates Engines, obviously everyone at Team Penske for working hard.  That's five wins on the year and back-to-back now.  I'm really proud of that.  I didn't feel like I drove my best today, but we executed there at the end where it counts and that's what makes these races so difficult to win."

 

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Keeping track of the Xfinity Playoff bubble

The Xfinity Series is back on a road course this weekend to make history along with the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series.

 

 

 

With Austin Cindric taking home his fourth win of the season last weekend at Road America, six drivers remain locked into the Playoffs with a win. Spots seven through 12 are still up for grabs.

 

Although, Brandon Brown, who is holding onto the final Playoff spot right now extended his lead further over the weekend, road courses can shake up everything especially when no one has ever run a race on it.

 

Ross Chastain is still holding onto the seventh spot in the driver Playoff standings as the first driver without a win. Justin Allgaier is right behind Chastain in eighth and Michael Annett is in ninth. Ryan Sieg jumped up one spot to 10^th while Riley Herbst, a Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender, is hanging on to the 11^th spot.

 

	Driver	Points	Race Wins
1	Chase Briscoe	760	5
2	Austin Cindric	771	4
3	Noah Gragson	697	2
4	Harrison Burton #	608	2
5	Brandon Jones	523	2
6	Justin Haley	636	1
7	Ross Chastain	708	0
8	Justin Allgaier	598	0
9	Michael Annett	543	0
10	Ryan Sieg	436	0
11	Riley Herbst #	424	0
12	Brandon Brown	403	0
13	Jeremy Clements	350	0
14	Myatt Snider #	330	0
15	Josh Williams	317	0

 

 

NASCAR Xfinity Series at Daytona road course 

Race Time: 3 p.m. ET Saturday

Track: Daytona International Speedway road course; Daytona Beach, Floridazzz (14-turn, 3.61-mile layout)

Length: 52 laps (187.72 miles)

Stages: Stage 1 ends Lap 15. Stage 2 ends Lap 30

TV coverage: NBCSN

Radio: Motor Racing Network (also SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Streaming: NBC Sports app (subscription required); mrn.com and SiriusXM for audio (subscription required)

Bring on that @DISupdates road course action! Here is this weekend’s JRM lineup:

P3: @NoahGragson
P7: @MichaelAnnett
P17: @J_Allgaier
P23: @DanielHemric pic.twitter.com/W8RtHbp43w

— JR Motorsports (@JRMotorsports) August 14, 2020

.@AJDinger is looking to lean on his vast Rolex 24 experience as the @NASCAR_Xfinity Series takes on the @DISupdates road course for the first time.

Full story:https://t.co/9p2E7CihH0

— Kaulig Racing (@KauligRacing) August 14, 2020