Bubba Wallace prepares for the start of the 2026 NASCAR playoffs

Bubba Wallace qualified for the 2026 NASCAR postseason and sits 14th in the standings heading into the opening race. The playoffs begin September 6 at the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington. Wallace secured his playoff position following a strong finish to the regular season, earning the necessary points during the final stage of the Daytona race on August 29. While he did not record a win during the regular season, he earned three top-three finishes, including a second-place result at New Hampshire on August 23. Wallace has recorded five top-10 finishes at Darlington during his career and intends to focus on maintaining a clean race to contend for the victory. He enters the event after a period of limited social media engagement intended to sharpen his focus on team performance.

• 10:05 AMYahoo Sports — Why Bubba Wallace believes he can win first race in the NASCAR Chase