“I think I’ve got a tire going down,” Bubba Wallace jokingly said on the radio after taking the checkered flag in third place. And what a day it was at Homestead-Miami! Wallace rolled in with fire in his veins and left with his best this season. For a man who‘s worked all season, accumulating stage points but yet failing to close it out, this is a moment of triumph. You can almost hear the breath of relief from the 23XI Racing shop. This was not a smooth ride, but today was different. Today was whole.

Bubba‘s been outspoken recently, fed up with being in the shadow of his teammate, NASCAR champion Tyler Reddick. “I‘m ready for respect,” he explained after the race, his tone having the gravitas of a man who‘s earned every square inch. And we get it, being on a team owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin raises the bar considerably. But this finish? It‘s evidence he‘s not just riding shotgun.

Stage points throughout the year, sure, but a podium finish tells a different tale. “Bubba’s starting to believe in this team,” one insider earlier noted. And why shouldn’t he? The No. 23 car was lightning quick, and his pit crew was sharp, turning disaster into opportunity. You can sense the transition that this wasn’t a one-off. This is a team getting into a groove.

So, what’s the secret sauce? Denny Hamlin, co-owner and driver himself, didn’t hold back when asked. “I mean, just, you want to go back and listen to what I said earlier in the year, you know, we got, you know, we feel like we got a game changer there in Charles that, uh, you know, is getting the best out of Bubba, that their cars are fast. I mean, I would contend the 23XI cars in general are just really fast. Um, and so I think they got really fast cars and Bubba’s putting it together. He’s putting in the work and obviously it’s showing what’s results right now.”

Charles Denike, the crew chief, is lighting a spark. Hamlin’s been singing this tune since the season kicked off, and now it’s paying off. “Before the race, we said we needed to execute like we did at Vegas last week where we control everything we could control,” Denike said. “We ran a really good 190 laps before we had an incident on a restart that was outside of our control. So we come here and we said we’re going to execute that way. We’re going to continue to control what we can control and the finishes will come if we keep doing that mentality. That’s really what we saw today.”

Charles Denike has been the glue, no doubt. He’s got Wallace dialed in, pushing him to new heights. But it’s not just the crew chief those 23XI cars are beasts. Denny’s right about that they’ve been fast all year. Three Toyota Camry XSEs cracked the top five, and Wallace was right there, showing he’s got the grit to match the hype. Add Bubba’s hustle, and you’ve got a recipe for something special. He’s not just chasing points, he’s chasing respect. And after today, you can’t argue he’s on the path to get that respect for himself.

“When I got the fence, I was p—– off for a half-corner and then it was OK,” Wallace said. “There’s still a long way to go, regroup and focus, and I need to think about the winners that we have on this team. It motivates you to drive harder in a more methodical way, not just driving in the fence like I did. So this allows you to think and just gotta have the right people behind you pushing you to do it.”

Wallace’s had his doubters. A rocky start to 2025 had folks questioning if he’d ever break through. But this third-place finish isn’t just a number it was a statement. “An incredible start to the season,” as Denny called it with pride in his words. The team’s belief is unshakable now. With fast cars, a sharp crew, and Wallace’s heart on the track, they’re not just competing they’re coming for the top.

Denny Hamlin’s Toyota triumph leaves Chris Buescher shaking his head at Homestead

Denny Hamlin powered his No. 11 Toyota to a win that had everyone talking, and I’m still buzzing about it. The guy was untouchable—leading laps, dodging chaos, and crossing the finish line like it was his destiny. But for Chris Buescher, it stung. His Ford was fast, but not fast enough, and he’s not shy about saying why.

“There was a crucial moment where track position played a huge role,” Buescher said after finishing behind Hamlin. “It allowed him to get out front and once Denny was in the lead, our Fords couldn’t catch him—they were definitely faster.”  He battled hard, even snagging a top-five, but that Toyota speed was on another level.

Chase Briscoe felt it too. Starting mid-pack, he clawed his way to a solid finish, but Hamlin’s dominance was the story. “Denny just had it today,” Briscoe admitted. “You could see it—his car was hooked up, and he didn’t let up.” It’s tough to watch when you’re giving it everything, and someone else is just… better.

For Hamlin, this win was personal. After a rollercoaster season, he’s proving he’s still got it. But for Buescher and Briscoe, it’s back to the drawing board. They’re not giving up as Ford’s got fight but today, Toyota ruled the track. And it does leave you feeling the highs and lows of racing all at once.