Bubba Wallace’s spotter, Freddie Kraft, has sparked tension and debate after expressing deep doubts about NASCAR’s controversial ‘run what ya brung’ proposal for the 2025 All-Star Race. Kraft’s concerns erupted amid NASCAR Communications Director Mike Forde’s attempt to address team frustrations and clarify misunderstandings following weeks of swirling rumors. Kraft’s skepticism grew louder on social media, where he questioned whether the bold idea was ever a feasible option, exposing a lingering sense of distrust and disappointment within the Cup Series garage.
Just last week, Denny Hamlin, a prominent driver, revealed on his ‘Actions Detrimental’ podcast that NASCAR pitched a dramatic plan for the upcoming All-Star event at North Wilkesboro. The rumored format suggested teams could build unrestricted cars reminiscent of short-track grassroots racing – an idea that generated both excitement and anxiety. According to Hamlin, the Cup teams quickly dismissed the proposal, fearing that extravagant car builds could burn through budgets with costs soaring up to $2 million. Hamlin believed that pushing for full-customization for a non-points exhibition, sandwiched between demanding races like the Coca-Cola 600 and the Mexico City event, simply went too far.
NASCAR attempted to squash the growing unrest through Mike Forde’s interview on the ‘Hauler Talk’ podcast. Forde disputed Hamlin’s narrative, insisting that the ‘run what ya brung’ plan was not a reckless ‘no rules’ free-for-all. Instead, he said, it was designed to let teams experiment with setups only by using already approved, single-source parts. The goal, Forde explained, was to gather more technical data, aimed at finally solving the persistent short-track package problems plaguing the Next-Gen cars. He pushed back firmly against the narrative that teams would need to spend millions, stating, “That’s simply inaccurate.”
Freddie Kraft, who also co-hosts the ‘Door Bumper Clear’ podcast, remained embittered as he weighed in on social media, responding to fan commentary and the article outlining Forde’s explanation. Kraft’s straightforward rejection of NASCAR’s reassurances revealed a deeper, unresolved distress over communication. He viewed the gap in understanding between NASCAR and its teams as a serious issue, writing candidly, “If it wasn’t a ‘run what ya brung’ race, then why not just say that in March?”
The confusion traces back to a meeting reportedly held on March 12 between NASCAR officials and team competition directors. Forde claims that, even in those early conversations, team owners raised pushback, fearing the costs and work hours required. Denny Hamlin elaborated, estimating that just preparing for the wild-card format would require each team to build three completely custom cars – with $900,000 allotted for parts alone, and another $1 million for design and fabrication. Forde openly refuted these figures, stating on the ‘NASCAR’ YouTube channel that no new parts or radical modifications would have been necessary, and some smaller teams could have saved money by running older cars not fit for high-profile races.
Despite these reassurances, Bubba Wallace’s spotter, Freddie Kraft, remained unconvinced, echoing the stressed sentiment felt by many in the garage. Even if the rules only allowed single-source, mix-and-match parts – with allowances for swapping spoiler bases or polycarbonate spoilers already common to NASCAR – Kraft saw little value in risking resources for a race that had no impact on championship points. He flatly asserted on social media that major overhauls would never be realistic with such a packed schedule looming.
As the debate raged, Denny Hamlin fired back in his usual sarcastic fashion, pushing against Forde’s attempts to minimize perceived risks and costs. The resulting standoff made it painfully clear: whether through miscommunication, mistrust, or exaggerated fears, the chasm between what officials promised and what teams braced for has only deepened. Although the ‘run what ya brung’ initiative may have been meant to encourage creative engineering, the disconnect in expectations and failed dialogue ultimately doomed the experiment before it began.
The fallout from Bubba Wallace’s spotter’s critique signals a growing frustration and unease among Cup teams. That negativity lingers, highlighting the ongoing challenges NASCAR faces in innovating while keeping trust and transparency intact. As the All-Star Race drama settles, competitors and fans alike will be left wondering if bolder changes can ever truly succeed in such a divided atmosphere.
