USA Today via Reuters
Mar 12, 2022; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace (23) during qualifying for the Ruoff Mortgage 500 at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Mar 12, 2022; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace (23) during qualifying for the Ruoff Mortgage 500 at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Bubba Wallace has had his fair share of criticism this season for not turning in the results that are expected of him. But his critics, at some point, have realized that it’s not entirely his fault, the bad results.
This was all the more clear after the recent Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway, a race in which Wallace had a fast car capable of winning the race, an incredible run, and yet he came up short.
Why he came up short? Well, his pit crew, once again.
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“We’re a joke,” Bubba Wallace said on his radio. “You have every reason to be pissed off,” Bootie Barker, his crew chief, replied.
via Getty
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 16: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 McDonald’s Toyota, waits on pit lane during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series 64th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 16, 2022 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
So far this season, the #23 team has been let down again, and again by their pit crew and their horror pit stops. And Kansas was no different, something that led to many NASCAR fans empathizing with Bubba Wallace.
That’s fucking bullshit
— x-DIEPENGUINSDIE (@MarkJones427) May 15, 2022
There is someone on that crew intentionally screwing Bubba. Every stop there is an issue.
— Britt Coble (@Britt_Coble) May 15, 2022
Every week man, every week. Give him a new pit crew already
— Nate (@nascarnate48) May 15, 2022
Genuinely embarrassing. He’s better off getting out and changing the tires himself at this point.
— Dalé Montaña (@mindofmontero) May 15, 2022
Another solid run by @BubbaWallace, despite once again having to overcome his own pit crew.
— Dave Moody (@DGodfatherMoody) May 15, 2022
His pit crew has cost him several top ten finishes
— Mark Odom (@mdodom61) May 15, 2022
He literally should be at least top 5, if not up there with Kurt. This pit crew needs a major overhaul, this is the 5th time this year hes had a great run ruined by pit road mistakes. It’s inexcusable
— Nate (@nascarnate48) May 15, 2022
Heartbreak for Bubba Wallace, ecstasy for teammate Kurt Busch
On one side of the 23XI Racing garage, the #23 team of Bubba Wallace were ruing their chances, what could’ve been had the pit stops been better, but on the other end, the mood was completely different.
The #45 team were jubilant as they took their and 23XI Racing’s first win of the season, their second overall after a well earned victory in which Kurt Busch fought through not one, but two Kyles, defending champion Kyle Larson, and his own brother, Kyle Busch towards the end of the race.
"With @Jumpman23 on the hood … I felt like I had to race like the GOAT."- @KurtBusch pic.twitter.com/BoUS20SNvn
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 15, 2022
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And Busch, in his post-race interview, credited his team, as well as Bubba Wallace, for this amazing feat this late in his career.
“It’s all about teamwork. I mean, I don’t do this alone, and the way Toyota’s helped us, JGR. My brother’s been so important on the family side of just, ‘Hey, you gotta get through these steps.’ Bubba is a tremendous teammate,” Busch said.
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