After an average debut season, 23XI Racing have set their eyes on a bigger, more successful season in 2022. The Hamlin-Jordan-owned team had Bubba Wallace as their first and only driver in 2021. However, for the next year, they’ve introduced new names while keeping some key ones at the core.
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One of the new names includes veteran Kurt Busch and one of the old ones includes crew chief Bootie Barker.
Barker has been the crew chief for Bubba Wallace for the last few months, and much to the Talladega winner’s delight, he will remain on his side for the imminent season as well.
Speaking to Bob Pockrass in an interview, Wallace said, “Bootie is just a lot of fun.”
“That is the one thing that I carry most to a race team is making sure we have fun.”
He explained how an organization has to act like a family in order to become a team as he added, “The racing side of it will take care of itself. That’s when the business switch flips on. But the more you act like family, the more you have fun together, the better off we’ll be.”
Bubba Wallace remains optimistic in his recovery
After not being cleared from his shoulder surgery yet, Wallace has to resort back and watch his teammate, Kurt Busch, do all the testing of the Next-Gen car. Surely, Wallace is eager to get the taste of the new car, but until he is medically clear, he can’t.
However, Wallace is optimistic about making it to the January round of testing with only weeks remaining at that point to the season opener at LA Coliseum.
“Everything is on track. … Well, l have to see what the docs say [when I can return]. But recovery is going well. Physical therapy is going well.”
USA Today via Reuters
Feb 14, 2021; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace (23) gets ready for the restart of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The first race winner in 23XI Racing’s history will be eager to adjust to the new car. The next season will be a huge one, not just for him in his NASCAR career, but for his team as well.
Bubba Wallace will be content with the team he has around him, but he has to be aware that he is the one who has to deliver the results. Wallace is capable of that, as well.
Also Read: “We Are Teammates, But We Are Competitors Too” – Bubba Wallace on Partnering Kurt Busch
