Bubba Wallace has strongly criticized NASCAR for failing to address spotter safety concerns, particularly after significant visibility problems emerged during the recent Mexico City race. The 23XI driver called the current protocols for spotter placement ‘unacceptable,’ bringing renewed attention to Bubba Wallace spotter safety concerns at specific tracks.
Wallace Points Out Dangerous Conditions at Mexico City
During the Mexico City event, Wallace argued that spotters were positioned where they could not properly observe turn one, leaving drivers without crucial guidance and increasing risks on the course. Unlike traditional oval venues, road courses such as Mexico City present unique visibility issues because of their numerous turns and unpredictable sight lines, making it harder for spotters to maintain clear communication with drivers. As a result, drivers are exposed to blind spots that require more than the usual number of spotters to ensure everyone’s safety.
On Friday, June 27, Wallace spoke candidly with the media regarding these issues:
“Spotters into a turn one in Mexico, do you know where they were standing? You can’t see anything. So if we want to talk about safety and all this stuff, either say we’re not racing with spotters or get them in a position and make sure the area is safe for them to operate in to give us the safety and the protocols that we need.”
—Bubba Wallace, Driver
“Sticking them behind trees or behind banners or whatever is at this point where we’re at in the year is completely unacceptable,”
he added. —Bubba Wallace, Driver
Race Implications and the In-Season Challenge
Wallace has secured the 24th starting spot for the upcoming Quaker State 400 at Echopark Speedway, trailing just behind Tyler Reddick, his teammate. The 260-lap race not only kicks off the In-Season Challenge but also sees Wallace competing against Daniel Suarez from Trackhouse Racing, who begins the event from the 31st position. Fans can tune into TNT Sports at 7 PM ET to catch all the action.
Spotter Freddie Kraft Describes Further Visibility Issues
The issue of spotter visibility is not limited to Mexico City. Earlier in June 2024 at the Enjoy Illinois 300 in Gateway, Wallace’s spotter, Freddie Kraft, issued a public apology after struggling with poor lines of sight during the event. Discussing the experience on the ‘Door Bumper Clear’ podcast, Kraft described his frustrations:
“In turn one is you lose kind of sight of your car…..and you can’t see the runs coming because they’re driving straight away from you. And you can’t see who’s got momentum and you can’t see who’s kind of getting ready to peak out,”
he said. —Freddie Kraft, Spotter
This led to unclear communication with Wallace during the race, though the #23 car still managed to avoid major incidents and finished in 21st place after starting from eighth position. Kraft has also highlighted similar struggles at other venues, including North Wilkesboro Speedway, where vehicles parked in the infield created additional blind spots and cars seemed to disappear from the spotter’s view.
Persistent Challenges as More Courses Pose Safety Risks
NASCAR is expected to face similar safety challenges at upcoming venues like the Chicago street course and Sonoma Raceway. Teams will likely be forced to deploy more spotters to cover blind sections on these complicated layouts, continuing the conversation around Bubba Wallace spotter safety concerns. As the schedule moves forward, the pressure is growing for NASCAR and participating organizations to establish effective protocols that prioritize driver and spotter well-being, especially at challenging tracks.
