A new crew chief, a new season, and a plethora of new hopes – well that pretty much summarizes the preparation process for Bubba Wallace and Team 23XI. The 2024 run for Wallace was far from up to the mark. Although the season started pretty well for him, he started to lose momentum and could not even make it to the playoffs. 

However, this time, the Team 23XI driver is all set to achieve the very best and not settle for anything less. As the season approaches Wallace is all set to instill a partnership that helps him to pave his way to the top. 

Wallace is optimistic for better things in 2025

One of the strategies that Team 23XI adopted throughout the strategy that has carved a niche for the operations of Team 23XI is the playoff strategy. However, going through the records of the team’s functioning this strategy hasn’t worked out quite well. Bubba Wallace and the 23XI team have developed a reputation for struggling in the first half of the season. They are showing a bit of momentum only during the late half and pushing for playoff success. However, this strategy has proven risky, often leaving them in a precarious position where a single misstep can derail their championship hopes. By relying on a late-season surge, they miss out on crucial early points and consistency, making it harder to secure a strong playoff position.

Now that the season has almost dawned, Bubba Wallace and Team 23XI are all set with a new strategy in mind. In an interview with Fox 32,  Speaking of how he envisions the pathway forward, Wallace said, “That’s the only goal I have set in mind—just win. You know, win and win early. I always like to win in the playoffs, so I feel like our team is hungry enough and capable enough. We’ve got all the right people in the right spots to go out and compete each and every weekend. It’s just a matter of getting that final spark lit to capitalize on opportunities. When you’re at the Cup level, those opportunities don’t come by often, so when they do, we’ve got to be ready for them. And that’s what we’re planning to do”.

Wallace will also be under the guidance of a new crew chief for the 2025 season. With longtime crew chief Bootie Barker stepping down, the No. 23 team is embarking on a fresh chapter. The realms will now be under the claps of Charles Denike. Denike is a seasoned winner of the Craftsman Truck Series. As the new season nears, Wallace is focused on building a strong foundation with Denike. Given that the environment in Team 23XI is quite collaborative, building a good relationship with the chief could be instrumental in a monumental victory.

Expressing his admiration for the new crew chief, Wallace said, “I got to meet Charles last year for the first time… He’s like super smart, he’s come from a military background. So he’s just very punctual, very set”. Denike may be making his NASCAR Cup Series debut, but with nine Truck Series wins under his belt, he knows what it takes to reach victory lane. His winning mindset and strategic expertise could be exactly what Wallace needs to elevate his performance in 2025. While the jump from Trucks to Cup is significant, Wallace sees Denike as a fresh and capable leader. Given the change in strategy and leadership ideology, one can hope that the upcoming run for Team 23XI and Bubba Wallace proves to be better. 

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Bubba Wallace talks about team owner Michael Jordan’s nature

Bubba Wallace has been an integral part of Team 23XI and the camaraderie he shares with team owners Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan is well known. In fact, most people would have seen Jordan on the tracks celebrating the victories of his drivers with heartfelt embraces. However, recently, Wallace shed more light on the NBA legend’s personality. 

He said, “He wants to win every race, but I think from a guy of his stature and his standpoint, you would think that he’s just throwing money into something and putting his name on something. MJ loves NASCAR. He’s been a lifer ever since he was a kid going to races with his family in Talladega, Darlington, Charlotte, you name it. He would always just go and have a good time and enjoy it”. 

Given the kind of support Jordan and Hamlin have extended to the team and Wallace, one can only expect things to work out in favor of Team 23XI for 2025.