Bubba Wallace and his issues with his own pit crew came to a head this weekend during Sunday’s Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway.
Wallace found himself in sixth place in the weather-delayed race when he was instructed by crew chief Bootie Barker to pit in order to deal with a tire that had come loose. Barker told Wallace to “stop, stop, stop,” which the driver did, only to be hit from behind by Tyler Reddick.
https://twitter.com/MrMatthewCFB/status/1541208026459377665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1541208026459377665%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Flarrybrownsports.com%2Fcar-racing%2Fbubba-wallace-furious-pit-crew-tire-bootie-barker%2F599643
The pit crew was able to sort out the tire but the damage was literally done and Wallace took to the radio to slam Barker and his crew out of frustration.
#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
“Leave me the f— alone. Don’t talk to me the whole f—ing race,” Wallace said over the radio.
“We’re not out of it,” Barker replied. “I know you’re pissed and you deserve to be.”
However, Wallace ended up finishing the race in 12th place.
While that might seem like an unfair blowup from Wallace on its own, it’s actually the latest in a series of mishaps that his crew has caused this season. 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.
So naturally, many in the NASCAR world had Bubba’s back in terms of his frustrations with his crew.
Everyone really comes after Bubba Wallace’s driving abilities, but hardly anyone talks about the crew committing costly errors EVERY SINGLE WEEK that prohibit him from proving himself.
— Ryan Minnigh (@ryanminnigh21) June 26, 2022
Also, put some respect on Bubba Wallace’s name. That man is doing the most with the literal least this year.
— Will Stone (@will_herb_stone) June 27, 2022
All Bubba Wallace needs is an average pit crew and he’d be Top 5 right now.
Get it together 23XI and get this man some damn help! #NASCAR
— Darian Gilliam (@BlackFlagMatter) June 27, 2022
Anyone blaming Bubba Wallace for this doesn’t watch NASCAR. https://t.co/Bgj21npuH2
— Natalie Cunningham (@Rowdyracergirl) June 27, 2022
something needs to change at 23xi because this is ridiculous https://t.co/oxHpWSJLGi
— jordan (@notbubbawallace) June 26, 2022
You have to imagine Bubba will be making some changes to his team after this season.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.