#23: Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing, leidos Toyota Camry
(Photo: NKP)

Bubba Wallace Crew Chief, Crew Members Suspended After COTA Penalties

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Bubba Wallace‘s crew chief Robert “Bootie” Barker, jackman Caleb Dirks and rear-tire changer Adam Riley have all been suspended for four races after NASCAR issued the 23XI Racing team a loose wheel penalty on March 29.

The infraction marks the fifth loose wheel penalty implemented in 2022.

The No. 23 Toyota lost its left-rear wheel on lap 45 of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Circuit of the Americas, which resulted in the team’s retirement from the event and a 38th-place finish.

Dave Rogers, the team’s performance director, will serve as the acting crew chief for the four events. 23XI has said it will not appeal the decision.

No monetary fines or points deductions were implemented on the team.

Wallace currently sits 20th in the standings, 28 points behind the playoff cut line.

No other penalties for all three series were handed out.

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NASCAR At Track Coordinator at Frontstretch

Dalton Hopkins began writing for Frontstretch in April 2021. Currently, he is the lead writer for the weekly Thinkin' Out Loud column, co-host of the Frontstretch Happy Hour podcast, and one of our lead reporters. Beforehand, he wrote for IMSA shortly after graduating from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2019. Simultaneously, he also serves as a Captain in the US Army.

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4 thoughts on “Bubba Wallace Crew Chief, Crew Members Suspended After COTA Penalties”

  1. Didn’t bubba finish 2nd at Daytona ! So in the 5 races since then he’s dropped from 2nd to 20th. And there’s definitely many cars behind bubba in the standings who will for sure finish ahead of bubba by years end.

    • After Daytona Bubba was fourth, 2 points behind the leader. Now he is 20th, 86 points behind the leader Elliott who had nine fewer points after the 500. He has lost 95 points in the five events.

      • I’d laugh if he has another wheel come off this weekend. And another one the next week. That would mean 9 crew members would be in forced timeouts, and people unfamiliar with their new positions. Would Nascar star backing off !

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