As Tyler Reddick bested Kyle Larson by a single point in the fight for the regular season title, his teammate Bubba Wallace was in a far more precarious position. The driver of the No. 23 Toyota started the Southern 500 from pole position and was able to close down to within 11 points of the 16th and final playoff spot through the first two stages. But as the race went on, the battle to make the playoffs became more daunting.
Several must-win drivers emerged near the front of the field as Wallace did all he could to keep Chris Buescher at bay in the points fight. Unfortunately, his chances took a severe hit with just over 20 laps to go. A multi-car accident left Wallace with nowhere to go, getting hit on three sides as he joined the crash scene. 23XI Racing co-owner Michael Jordan looked on in dismay as Wallace's playoff hopes quickly faded.
