Bubba Wallace apologized to his spotter, Freddie Kraft, after a tense moment during the NASCAR Cup Series race at Dover Motor Speedway. Wallace shared a dash cam video on X/Twitter showing his No. 23 Toyota narrowly avoiding a spinout caused by Christopher Bell’s No. 20 Toyota, an incident that visibly startled Kraft.
Sorry for the heart attack [Freddie Kraft],
Bubba Wallace wrote. This one fired me up. In the clip, Kraft is heard exclaiming Woah! as the near-miss unfolded, followed by laughter and another sharp Woah from the spotter. —Bubba Wallace
Strong Performance Boosts Wallace’s Playoff Chances
By avoiding the spinout incident, Wallace secured a seventh-place finish, a significant jump from his 22nd starting position. This top-10 result is crucial for Wallace’s ongoing playoff pursuit, keeping him just inside the cutoff with a 16-point cushion and the final playoff spot. With five races remaining in the season, Wallace must either win or consistently place well to maintain a shot at the NASCAR Cup Series championship, highlighting the pressure on the 31-year-old driver to deliver strong performances.
Inconsistent Season for Bubba Wallace
The 2025 season has been a rollercoaster for Wallace, marked by both impressive top-five finishes and disappointing results near the back of the field. His fluctuating performance has led to uncertainty over his ability to close the season strongly and secure a championship berth.
Observations on Wallace’s Recent Form
Kevin Harvick recently commented on Wallace’s uneven season during his podcast, Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour. He expressed surprise over Wallace’s promising start, stating:
I think the thing that’s surprised me about Bubba is just how well they started the season. Like, ‘Oh my gosh, this No. 23 team is going to be on fire,’ and the wheels have just fallen off of the No. 23 car,
—Kevin Harvick
Harvick pointed to specific struggles, including qualifying issues and a costly error at Chicago that hurt Wallace’s points tally. He added:
It’s just been really, really all over the place, for not only the No. 23, but the No. 45. The No. 45 hasn’t done anything that we expected him to do, from a speed standpoint, race standpoint. They’ve been off. We talk about the lawsuit and things like that, but they’ve just been off, compared to where the No. 23 started, and the No. 45 never even had that shining moment yet.
—Kevin Harvick
What Lies Ahead for Wallace in the Playoffs
Wallace’s ability to stay competitive in the final stretch of the season remains uncertain as he balances pressure and expectations. His seventh-place finish at Dover provides momentum, but consistent results or a race win are essential to keep his championship aspirations alive. As the competition intensifies with only a handful of races left, every point gained will be critical for the No. 23 team.