“There’s Really No Excuse for It” – Bubba Wallace Exposes the Biggest Problem With Michael Jordan’s Nascar Team

Things look bleak within the camp of 23XI Racing, especially for the No. 23 Toyota team. Uncertainty about entering the Playoffs haunts Bubba Wallace the most, with just seven races left in the regular season. The team had started the season with their best foot forward, and Tyler Reddick went on to clinch the first victory at the Circuit of The Americas.

However, as the season passed over to the crucial stages, the synergy between the team members and the driver seemed to go south. They failed to execute their basic strategies, which was evident in Bubba Wallace’s disappointed voice as he vented his frustrations in an interview with NBC Sports.

Bubba Wallace heaves his frustration as the pit road problems escalate

Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin’s team had undoubtedly made a breakthrough in the world of NASCAR, given their past legacy in their individual fields. Although still in its nascent stage, the 23XI Racing team has already exhibited its promising talent and driving caliber. But with the passage of time, it is becoming evident that team efforts are failing to be in tandem, especially for Bubba Wallace.

The No. 23 driver’s pit crew has, for quite some time, been on the receiving end of criticism from the driver as well as the fans alike. Wallace has been vocal about the hiccups that he has faced within his team when it comes to executing strategies and how his pit crew has been his Achilles heel. This was perceptible in the race at Darlington, where a loose lug nut forced the driver to compromise his top 5 position.

Although 23XI Racing had announced earlier in the year that it would be building its own in-house pit crew team without contracting it from Joe Gibbs Racing. This promulgation had been a welcome move and was a step towards realizing the vision for the team. However, there have been numerous instances where the gamble seemed to fall flat on its face and throw a wrench in the hard work of the driver.

This discontent was apparent, in the interview with NBC Sport ahead of the race in New Hampshire. Wallace exclaimed, “This week was a big reflection moment for everybody on the 23 team on how we need to execute better. Mistakes at this point in the season, there’s really no excuse for it, whether it’s my fault on track or the crew’s fault in preparation. We just have to be better as a team moving forward to even think about the playoffs.”

“Seven races left (until the playoffs). We have the chance to do something great,” Wallace concluded. 

Watch this Story: HMS Legend Destroys Bubba Wallace After Disappointing Michael Jordan At Chicago

The No. 23 Toyota team fails to execute again at the Quaker State 400 race in Atlanta

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The issue regarding pit road and Bubba Wallace has persisted throughout the ongoing season and has been carried over from the last season. And was even evident in the Quaker State 400 race in Atlanta. Wallace had failed the pre-race inspection twice and passed on the third attempt. Moreover, NASCAR ejected car chief Zachary Marquardt.

The move came just hours after Wallace expressed his concerns with the pit crew personnel and how things were failing to fall into their designated place. He had said to Fronstretch, “Just execution. You know, we had a lot of Pit Roads last year that took us out and attended this wheels throughout the season. I know that number pretty well, I think it was two here. It’s just not making mistakes on that side of things, not making mistakes on my side[…]”

“Understanding that before you get it was sort of dialed out because you think that it’s over and we will recover and then you go down a slippery slope on the mental side, alright we will try again next week when it’s a time earlier,” Wallace had asserted.

With the conflicting ideas and tensions brewing within the team, only a victory at this stage would put an end to all the stumbling blocks. With the qualifiers of Crayon 301 showing the light in the right direction, it is to be seen how Bubba Wallace takes the reins of the race and secures a Playoff berth with his teammate Tyler Reddick.

Read More: “Certainly Would Like to See a Little More” – Denny Hamlin Snubs Bubba Wallace’s Effort as He Struggles to Stay Motivated