After weeks of problems and frustrations, Bubba Wallace finally got his wish: a new pit crew. It was announced Tuesday that Joe Gibbs Racing had made a change.
#NASCAR … The teams of Christopher Bell and Bubba Wallace swap pit crew members heading into Sunday's Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. https://t.co/uFhDcDx8d8
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 5, 2022
Wallace’s former front changer Jackson Gibbs and tire carrier Nick McBeath will now head to Christopher Bell’s No. 20 car with 23XI Racing, away from Wallace’s No. 23 car. Gibbs had been with Wallace’s team since May.
Additionally, AJ Rosini joins the No. 20 team roster as a rear changer in place of Daniel Olszowy. Rosini had served as a tire changer for Wallace’s team in multiple races this season.
Joe Gibbs Racing has yet to officially announce the roster changes but they have been made ahead of the race in Atlanta this coming weekend.
Wallace has been frustrated all season long with his pit crew and the number of mistakes they have made that have cost him pole positioning and winnable races. Crew chief Bootie Barker gave Wallace some bad advice while racing in the Coca-Cola 600, his pit crew was penalized twice in the AdventHealth 400, he abruptly exited the race in Sonoma with engine trouble, and Barker and members of his crew were suspended for four races after a wheel came off Wallace’s car during the Circuit of the Americas.
https://twitter.com/MrMatthewCFB/status/1541208026459377665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1541208026459377665%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthecomeback.com%2Fracing%2Fbubba-wallace-nascar-pit-crew-ally-400.html
It all came to head a few weeks ago when Wallace refuse to have a conversation with his crew chief after yet another mistake that was made during a race in Nashville.
“Leave me the f— alone. Don’t talk to me the whole f—ing race,” Wallace was heard saying to Barker over the radio.
#NASCAR … 23 radio after 2nd setop
CC Bootie Barker trying to reassure Bubba
Bubba: "Leave me the —- alone. Don't talk to me the whole —- race.
Bootie: "We're not out of it. I know you are pissed and you deserve to be."
— Dustin Long (@dustinlong) June 26, 2022
Wallace admitted recently he has to control his anger but it’s part of his passion for wanting to win.
“Passion,” Wallace said Saturday at Road America. “I want to win, need to win, gotta win. I have a team capable of winning. The car is capable of winning. So, that just creates passion. With passion comes frustration. Just gotta manage it.”
