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Saturday 13 auguSt 2022
Bubba Wallace signs contract extension with 23XI Racing

By JENNA FRYER better, but he needs a vic-
AP Auto Racing Writer tory in the remaining three
Bubba Wallace locked regular-season races to
down his future with 23XI get into the playoffs. NAS-
Racing on Friday and now CAR races at Richmond,
is eyeing a spot in NAS- the road course at Watkins
CAR’s playoffs for the first Glen and then Daytona,
time in his career. where Wallace should be
Wallace and 23XI an- considering among the fa-
nounced a multiyear con- vorites.
tract extension that keeps Wallace earned his only
Wallace in the No. 23 Toy- career victory, the first for
ota that was the founda- the 23XI organization, last
tion of Denny Hamlin and fall at Talladega. At Day-
Michael Jordan’s race tona, Wallace has four
team. The organization was top-five finishes in 10 career
launched around the only Cup starts. Three of those
Black driver competing at finishes were second.
NASCAR’s top level and “Without a doubt,” Wallace
the many partners Wallace said when asked if he be-
signed in 2020 when he be- lieves he can win in the reg-
came a central figure in ular season. “We’re really
the national reckoning on confident with what we’re
racial and social justice is- Bubba Wallace smiles during NASCAR Cup Series auto race qualifying at the Michigan International bringing back for Sunday.
sues. Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich., Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022. Wallace won the pole position. Watkins Glen is just a race
Associated Press
“It feels great to get this re- of survival, you never know
newal done and to know I “I thought from Day 1 on own spot in the 16-driver ful of races,” Wallace said. what can happen. But then
have a home at 23XI Rac- joining this team that I field. Wallace has never “We know the urge to win Daytona, I think we’re one
ing,” Wallace said. “Thanks wanted to make this where before made the Cup Se- is high and I thought that of the favorites going into
to M.J. and Denny for con- I retire and a place that I ries playoffs and heads into was the best opportunity that. We just have to con-
tinuing to believe in me. call home for a very long Sunday’s race at Richmond that we had all year long, tinue to do what we do like
We’ve come a long way time,” Wallace said. “I’m ranked a career-best 19th and just me replaying the we’ve been doing the last
together in less than two just trying to do the best in the standings. last restart and wondering four to five races.
years and we’ve checked that I can and continue He’s coming off his first pole what could I have done “It seems to be working.
off some major goals along those efforts.” of the season last week different? Don’t ask what it is. I can’t
the way. We know we still The team expanded this at Michigan International “I am in a much better really tell you. But it’s work-
have work to do, both on season to add a second Speedway and then a sec- place today; I see how ing.”
and off the race track, but car, with veteran Kurt Busch ond-place finish that left incredible our team per- The extension was an-
I feel good about our team as Wallace’s teammate. him nearly in tears over fall- formed ... to put us in that nounced a day after Wal-
and the direction we’re Busch will miss his fourth ing just short of his second position. So lots to be hap- lace hosted more than
heading.” consecutive race on Sun- career win. py for and grateful for, but 3,500 people at Richmond
Wallace had no intention day with concussion-like “We haven’t had the best in that moment, the sign of Raceway for the inaugu-
of testing the free agent symptoms, which has put season, but we’ve been defeat got me there for a ral “Bubba’s Block Party,”
market because he be- his playoff berth in jeopar- able to turn it around and second.” which he hopes will bring a
lieves his only future in NAS- dy. At the same time, Wal- really shown what we are Wallace has four consecu- younger, more diverse au-
CAR is with 23XI. lace is clawing toward his capable of these last hand- tive finishes of eighth or dience to NASCAR.q

Unvaccinated Djokovic out of U.S.

Open tuneup in Cincinnati

not expected to be able and needed to sit out two drawn from the field in Cin-
to enter the U.S. Open, events in the United States cinnati include defend-
the year’s last Grand Slam earlier this year, along with ing champion Alexander
tournament, which begins a tournament in Montreal Zverev — the 2020 U.S.
in New York on Aug. 29. this week. Open runner-up tore ankle
Djokovic is a 35-year-old Djokovic has said he was ligaments at the French
from Serbia who owns 21 stil holding out hope of Open in June — and in-
major championships, one being able to enter the jured players Gael Mon-
behind Rafael Nadal for U.S. Open, but that would fils, Reilly Opelka, Oscar
the men’s record. Djokovic require a change of gov- Otte and Dominic Thiem.
Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, wipes the sweat off during a training has said he won’t get vac- ernment policy, which the Australian Open final-
session at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, cinated against the illness U.S. Tennis Association says ist Danielle Collins pulled
Spain, on April 30, 2022. caused by the coronavi- it will adhere to. out of the women’s draw
Associated Press rus, even if that prevents Djokovic is a three-time because of a neck injury,
CINCINNATI (AP) — No- not gotten any COVID-19 him from playing in certain champion at the U.S. while three-time major
vak Djokovic pulled out vaccine shots and so is not tournaments. He missed Open and was the runner- champion Angelique Ker-
of next week’s hard-court allowed to travel to the the Australian Open in up last year to Daniil Med- ber made a scheduling
tournament in Cincinnati United States. January after being de- vedev. change and opted not to
on Friday because he has That is also why Djokovic is ported from that country Other men who have with- compete in Cincinnati. q