It was a gala evening in Nashville’s Music City Center as the NASCAR community flocked under one roof to honor the new champions. Amongst the long list of winners, the two drivers who bedazzled the most were the reigning Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney and his dear friend, the sixth-time winner of the Most Popular Driver, Chase Elliott. While the HMS driver could not thank his fans enough for the award, his Team Penske compatriot raised the toast, “To us and those like us,” before ending the season on a high note.

However, the hopes of ending 2023 on a high were marred for both drivers. It was just days later that spotters of both drivers took to Twitter to announce that they were parting from their respective teams and joining Spire Motorsports for the 2024 season. However, the question that arises at this juncture is why a sudden hurry to change allegiance. Well, it seems that Bubba Wallace’s spotter Freddie Kraft has decoded the reason.

Tyler Reddick joins Freddie Kraft & Co. in tracking down the recent departures of Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney’s spotters

Chase Elliott’s spotter Eddie D’Hondt spent 12 years with Hendrick Motorsports and has helped his team to 26 victories and a Cup Series championship. The same can be asserted for Josh Williams, the spotter of the newly crowned champion Ryan Blaney. Williams was with Team Penske for nine years before announcing his resignation on December 4.

Moreover, both the spotters are set to join the rookie Cup Series drivers Zane Smith and Carson Hocevar in Spire Motorsports for the 2024 season. Nevertheless, amidst this flurry of changes within the teams, NASCAR enthusiasts are eager to get to the bottom. Tyler Reddick has the perfect answer: “Salaries are changing,” and spotter Brett Griffin reinforced his take by asserting, “Salaries doubling.”

The conversation unfolded in the latest episode of Door Bumper Clear, where the 23XI Racing driver Tyler Reddick made a guest appearance. Commenting upon the changes in the teams, Griffin expressed, “Anytime the sport takes its most popular driver Chase Elliott and, its champion Ryan Blaney, and key members, nothing is more important than the drivers. The second most important thing is the crew chief making the car better.

“The third most important thing in my mind is the spotter because he is out there, obviously, he is the eyes and the ears. When you have changes, Tyler at that level, I didn’t expect to see Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney to change spotters. Did you?” To which Reddick replied with a blunt “No.”

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Freddie Kraft points toward Spire Motorsports’ aggressive approach for making the recent changes

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Speaking on the change in team personnel, Tyler Reddick also laid bare the transitions that he had undergone after joining 23XI Racing in the 2023 season and his spotter Derek Kneeland being substituted by Nick Payne. The 23XI Racing driver asserted the learning curve that lay ahead of the team members.

Nonetheless, picking up the reigns of the conversation about spotters joining Spire Motorsports, Freddie Kraft expressed, “Spire made a point to go out and get talented spotters. They felt like, there are three people who are in control of things on Sundays, the driver, the crew chiefs, and the spotters, so they were willing to go out and get the talented drivers, the best crew chiefs they can get, and the spotters they can get. And with them doing that and offering large, Brett said double.”

Furthermore, with the pay scale increasing, Brad Keselowski’s spotter and DBC co-host TJ Majors was asked whether his driver had shown any signs for retaining the spotter. To which Majors humorously added, “Not yet.”

Well, it is to be seen whether TJ Majors can expect a raise in his paycheck amidst these dealings involving exorbitant prices. Moreover, it will be a unique spectacle to watch what lies ahead for the two championship-winning friends and how they adapt to the changes in their team.

Read More: “I Already Got the First Name”- SHR Star Takes a Hilarious Jibe at Chase Elliott as He Unconventionally Wins Over New Fan