While Bubba Wallace weighs offers from Richard Petty Motorsports and at least Chip Ganassi Racing, the main issue is where Wallace will be better in 2021.
Asked what was important to him on Wednesday, Wallace noted the family atmosphere at Richard Petty Motorsports, but also said: ‘Of course you want to be competitive. I came into this sport and wanted to win races and be a household name on the track, so we have a lot of work to do as a team and together to get there. ”
While COVID-19 has made this season unlike any other in the history of NASCAR and Chip Ganassi Racing’s No. 42 team had a board change in April and a crew change in August, statistically the No. 42 car and Wallace’s No. 43 cars even the past three months.
The no. 42 with Matt Kenseth has averaged a finish of 20.11 since the season in May. Wallace has a 20.16 average finish in the same time. The difference is one position over a span of 18 races. Although Kenseth has the best finish in that stretch with his runner-up result at Indianapolis, Wallace has three top 10s compared to Kenseth’s two at that time. Kenseth has scored 316 points since May; Wallace scored 313 points for RPM.
Eighteen races is only half a Cup season and does not always give the clearest picture when teams ride through ups and downs. Kenseth, who did not participate last season, took the ride no. 42 over after the team fired Kyle Larson in April for expressing a racial slur during an online race.
Asked about talks with Chip Ganassi Racing for next year, Kenseth told NBC Sports last weekend that ‘we’re not really having any very meaningful conversations about really one of those to be honest with you. I think if things go as bad as they go, I do not think both sides are probably super scared to talk about what’s going on for six or eight months now.
‘I think we are more concerned about trying to get this ship as soon as possible and start getting some finishes and moving forward. … We really believe that the cars and the team and everything, if we have a really good day, are able to win. I think it’s probably at the front right now, trying to run well first, then hopefully running and possibly getting into a position where we can throw one out. “
Wallace, 26, is among a number of free agents after this season. The list was limited to Ryan Blarney signing a contract extension with Team Penske earlier this year, and Brad Keselowski recently signing an extension with Team Penske. Erik Jones is among those looking for a ride next season with rookie Christopher Bell taking Jones’ ride in the No .. next season at Joe Gibbs Racing.
What he will do next season, Wallace said on Wednesday: ‘Nothing is set in stone, yet everything is worked out, ironed out. Hopefully we will get that announcement soon. ”
Among the advantages at Ganassi is a two-car team with former champion Kurt Busch. Richard Petty Motorsports is a one-car team, but is aligned with Richard Childress Racing and Germain Racing, and offers alliance teammates in Austin Dillon, Tyler Reddick and Ty Dillon.
An important factor will be sponsorship. Wednesday’s announcement of a multi-year personal services deal between Columbia Sportswear and Wallace includes sponsorship for at least one race. This is the second sponsorship deal for Wallace in a month. On July 14, RPM announced a multi-year sponsorship deal with Cash App. The deal included primary sponsorship in five races this season.
“I was always told profit and they will come,” Wallace said of sponsorship. “And we won a few, we won a few in the Truck Series and are still struggling with sponsorship issues. I haven’t won much since then. But we did things. We won from the race track. I think that has helped to be much bigger than an athlete, to stand up for people. It’s something we often do not do, simply because we put on a pedestal.
“With the spotlight I put myself in, by being focused on what’s going on in the world, it has created opportunities for new partners. Check out Columbia here. A brand new partner, part of the sport, part of RPM, part of the Bubba Wallace brand. We do good things from the racetrack that help our performance on the track. So, we’ll just go through these ways.
“This does not compare with the little sponsorship moment we have had in the past. This is an incredible opportunity for me; one of the best years of my racing career. We are building a great future here, getting these partnerships and deals in place; to set up the team, the partner and myself for great success and we will continue to do so. “
Find sponsorship, decide where next year should race and the role Wallace has increased in social activism could drain. Wallace said in late June that he was “out of hell.” Wallace said Wednesday that he feels better.
“I definitely feel a lot more excited,” he said. “There is a lot of positive momentum on our part. Great things are being worked on behind the scenes like these (Columbia Sportswear) that we are excited to share with people. It’s a part of it. You go through the wringer. It makes you a better person at the end of the day. Maybe it’s a new outlet for you to explore, as I said about speaking out about things going on in the country and in the world, and you want to be a part of it. And that’s how I felt. I did not know what to expect.
‘You know me, I’m always just’ do it and find it all ‘and that’s just part of Bubba Wallace’s daily life and we’ll continue. I am always ready for what is thrown at me. I try to treat it in the best way.
‘I’ll sleep over there and I’ll hear about it, because I have my heart on my sleeve. But all in all, we are refreshed. ”
Give him a chance to focus on the last four races of the regular season to make the playoffs and where he will race next season.
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