Rewatching previous Truck competitions provides NASCAR's Bubba Wallace with more assurance, understanding BY SHANE CONNUCK.

Bubba Wallace during the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 05, 2023 in Avondale, Arizona. Cr. Netflix/Tyler Schank NETFLIX/TYLER SCHANK Courtesy of Netflix DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. 

Bubba Wallace shared that his psychological condition is the finest it has ever been in his NASCAR journey. During the break, he has caught himself rewatching his 2014 Truck Series races. Wallace, who has been vocal about his struggles with self-doubt throughout his profession, is cultivating gratitude and an understanding of his position in the sport. And following his first postseason qualification, Wallace is approaching this season with a renewed mindset. He is striving to concentrate more on his major objectives and aspirations and not stress over trivial matters. 

However, sustaining that mental tranquility is not nearly as straightforward when you're entering a Cup vehicle every Sunday. Therefore, Wallace, now 30, endeavors to envision himself getting into his truck a decade ago at Daytona. 

The eager driver was awestruck by the magnitude of the track — even though back then, Martinsville’s half-mile circuit might as well have been a superspeedway. "Back when you really couldn't tell that kid nothing," Wallace remarked about himself. "He would simply hop in a truck and go full-throttle. Had no self-doubt whatsoever. Trying to recapture that." Powered by Taboola RECOMMENDED FOR YOU NATIONAL 10 bodies recovered from Texas lake in 20 months, cops say. 

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She wants answers Feb 14, 2024 Whether it was a marquee event or just any race, Wallace derived the same enthusiasm from every Sunday while ascending through the rankings. 

Just having the chance to compete at this level felt like fulfilling all his desires. Wallace, who finished 12th in last year's Cup Series, has become more demanding of himself over time. Despite attempting to arrive at the track with a cheerful attitude, he has struggled with despondency and self-criticism internally. 

He appreciated his mindset heading into last season with 23XI Racing, following Kurt Busch securing a playoff berth in its No. 45 Toyota (Busch did not compete in the playoffs due to a brain injury). 

However, that might have made Wallace slightly excessively self-assured, and he aspires to have found that equilibrium. "I was basically, like, pressing too hard," Wallace stated. "It's a delicate balance. You can't simply sit back and wait (for success) to come to you, that’s not the modus operandi of this sport. You have to go out and earn it. 

But I believe just having a different outlook — being assertive, being convinced — the self-assurance is what will deliver results for us." Apart from Wallace's personal achievements, 2023 was an unparalleled year for 23XI, the team co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, which will present Cup cars at the Daytona 500 for the fourth consecutive year. 

Wallace and Tyler Reddick both qualified for the playoffs, with Reddick advancing to the Round of 8. 23XI has integrated some fresh faces behind the scenes who have assumed more significant roles in day-to-day racing operations — scrutinizing additional spreadsheets, graphs, and data. "I didn’t spend enough years in school to grasp what I'm looking at," Wallace remarked. 

"But it illustrates the dedication that Denny possesses, and that trickles down from MJ; they're furnishing us with all the resources we need to perform successfully. "And thus, ultimately, they're handing over the reins. And if you can't do anything with it, that's on you. 

I cherish that pressure." Wallace appears to be in high spirits and self-assured as he nears his seventh full-time racing season in the Cup Series. 

Yet, will his enhanced outcomes mirror his revitalized mindset? Amidst a cluster of journalists inside the Daytona infield media center, Wallace extended his legs. He crossed them while lifting both his hands with crossed fingers visible. "Fingers crossed, dog," he expressed.