Bubba Wallace will have a new crew chief in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2025, as Bootie Barker will move to a different role alongside 23XI Racing, the team announced Oct. 30.
Charles Denike, currently the crew chief for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing’s No. 19 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, will replace Barker at 23XI.
“23XI has been good to me, and I hope I have been as good for 23XI,” Barker said in a team release. “Loyalty is important to me and I will continue to do all I can to help everyone here succeed in my new role. I was fortunate to be a part of the 23XI’s inception, and I look forward to being a part of the team’s continued journey.”
“Bootie has meant a lot to me and the No. 23 team,” Wallace added. “We’ve been together for some special moments, and I’m glad he’s still going to be a part of what we’re building at 23XI. I know this wasn’t an easy decision, but I’m excited to work with Charles and see what we can accomplish together.”
According to the release, Barker will remain with the organization and will work with 23XI’s leadership team for car preparation and strategy.
Barker joined 23XI as Wallace’s crew chief during 2021 after Mike Wheeler was promoted to the team’s role of director of competition. He has been a crew chief for a variety of teams within NASCAR since the 2000s.
In 2024, Wallace has six top fives and 13 top 10s with Barker at the helm.
Christian Eckes, the driver of the Denike-fronted No. 19, has three wins, 13 top fives and 20 top 10s in the Truck Series in 2024 and is third in points.
“I am excited for the 2025 season with the No. 23 team and to work with Bubba and all of 23XI Racing beginning in the offseason,” Denike said. “Bubba is a proven winner, and I believe we will bring out the best in each other. Thank you to Michael [Jordan, co-owner], Denny [Hamlin, co-owner] and Dave [Rogers, director of competition] for the opportunity to join the 23XI family. They have built an incredible culture at Airspeed. I am a believer that winning is a process. When you step foot into Airspeed, you see the tools and resources that it takes to win and are surrounded by people with the same vision and mindset. I am looking forward to this next chapter and to be able to contribute to 23XI’s growth and journey to winning championships.”
Kevin Rutherford is the executive editor of Frontstretch, a position he gained in 2025 after being the managing editor since 2015, and serving on the editing staff since 2013.
At his day job, he's a journalist covering music and rock charts at Billboard. He lives in New York City, but his heart is in Ohio -- you know, like that Hawthorne Heights song.