Bubba Wallace Chicago qualifying struggles became the focal point over the race weekend, as his issues during the session led to not only his own misfortune but also significant complications for Erik Jones and the No. 23 team. The series of mishaps unfolded on the Chicago Street Course, highlighting the unpredictable nature of qualifying and its broader impact on multiple teams and drivers.
Recap of the Challenging Qualifying Session
During the recent Door Bumper Clear podcast, Freddie Kraft, Wallace’s spotter, shed light on what went awry with the No. 23 toyota/”>Toyota in Chicago. Initially, Wallace showed promise by posting the fastest time in practice, boosting hopes for a strong qualifying result. However, as qualifying began, the plan quickly unraveled. Heading toward Turn 11, Wallace spun out, setting off a domino effect that created chaos for several other drivers.
“We go on the track, Bubba’s fastest in practice, and we’re pretty excited to go qualify,”
—Freddie Kraft, Wallace’s spotter
In an attempt to avoid blocking the No. 38 car driven by Zane Smith, Wallace inadvertently veered into Erik Jones’ line, disrupting Jones’ qualifying lap. The trouble didn’t end there. After cooling down and preparing for another attempt, yet another spin from Wallace brought out a yellow flag, again disrupting Jones and effectively ending his chances at a clean run. Kraft expressed remorse for the situation, recounting a direct interaction with Jones after the incident.
“We all go in, we all cool down, go back out to make our next run. Erik’s out there behind us somewhere. We spin out back in the fence. Instant yellow comes out, which is weird that I guess they abandoned that after Saturday. But the yellow comes out instantly and we ruin Erik’s lap for the second time. Then he qualified right there when we did backwards twice. As I’m leaving, I walked right by Erik and I was like ‘Sorry, buddy. I don’t know what to tell you.’”
—Freddie Kraft, Wallace’s spotter
Erik Jones Reacts to Qualifying Turmoil
Erik Jones, whose attempts to post a competitive qualifying time were twice hindered by Wallace’s on-track incidents, weighed in on the situation himself. Although recognizing that a strong qualifying result was unlikely, Jones conveyed a sense of resignation over how the events set a challenging tone for his weekend.
“I wasn’t going to qualify that well,”
—Erik Jones, NASCAR driver
“…Yeah, we started 35th, so that was a good start to the weekend.”
—Erik Jones, NASCAR driver
Strategy Adjustments and Team Reflections
Kraft offered more insight into Wallace’s general approach on road courses. In past events, such as at COTA, Wallace benefitted from following teammate Tyler Reddick, which seemed to improve his results. For the Chicago event, however, the strategy shifted, as Wallace attempted his qualifying run solo, which did not yield the desired outcome. This experience led the team to reconsider their approach going forward.
“Qualifying at road courses, Bubba has been really kind of following Tyler [Reddick] around, and it’s been helping, obviously,”
—Freddie Kraft, Wallace’s spotter
Impact on Race Weekend Results
Due to the mishaps in qualifying, Bubba Wallace started the Chicago Street Race from the 37th position. Despite battling his way into the top 10 later in the event, his momentum was cut short after being spun by Alex Bowman, which resulted in a 28th-place finish. Erik Jones, starting from 35th, managed to climb to 25th by the checkered flag. The entire qualifying ordeal underscores the critical and often unpredictable role these sessions play in shaping race outcomes, not only for Wallace but also for competitors like Jones caught up in the fallout.
Looking Ahead for Bubba Wallace and the No. 23 Team
The events in Chicago demonstrate how qualifying can have a cascading impact on race performance and driver morale. The team will review their approach, potentially returning to strategies proven at other road courses, such as collaborating with Tyler Reddick. As the season continues, Bubba Wallace and his crew will aim to move past these Chicago qualifying struggles, hoping to convert practice speed into stronger race results while minimizing surprises that impact fellow drivers like Erik Jones.
