“Multiple crew chiefs and just everybody that’s, you know, changed throughout my life in the last 15 years. He’s been the same.” Bubba Wallace said this on The Trey Wallace Podcast about his long-term relationship with spotter Freddie Kraft. This driver-spotter duo has been a fan favorite for years, and their playful back-and-forth always keeps everyone entertained. It’s all about friendship, a bit of shade, and the kind of chemistry that makes NASCAR so much fun to follow.

Bubba and Freddie have been through it all together, racking up two Cup Series wins—at Talladega in 2021 and Kansas in 2022. But their bond goes way beyond the track. Their honesty has helped them navigate tough moments, like when Freddie took the blame for a mistake at an ill-fated Daytona 500. On his podcast, he confessed, “I pretty much f—-ed up from there. I talked about it with Bubba last night.” With a 15-year partnership that’s seen its share of highs and lows, their latest exchange on social media has everyone talking.

Bubba Wallace and Freddie Kraft are at it again

On a recent episode of the Door Bumper Clear podcast, Tommy Baldwin, alongside Kraft, shared a fun tidbit about a nickname they have for Wallace—Emerson Fittipaldi, the two-time Formula One champion. Baldwin revealed that Wallace’s Stage 1 victory at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) brought the nickname to life.

Tommy recalled, “Emerson Fittipaldi — I couldn’t believe it,” explaining how he and Corey LaJoie were analyzing data during the race when Wallace’s performance stood out. Baldwin added, “He was like, ‘How about Bubba?’ I’m like, ‘I don’t know where he came from, but I’m sure Emerson’s coming back some part of this race and there he was,’” highlighting how Wallace’s skill on the track reminded him of the legendary F1 driver. There’s the respect that No. 23 Toyota driver’s peers share for him. However, while he gets respect from Baldwin, Kraft doesn’t shy from the odd jab at Bubba.

Now, let’s get to the moment that’s got everyone buzzing. Freddie posted on X, asking fans for a Q&A. A fan, Darren Eubank, asked, “Do you and Bubba ever hang out away from the race track?” Freddie didn’t hold back, replying, “As little as possible. I can only tolerate @BubbaWallace in small doses.” Oof—that’s a burn! But Bubba wasn’t about to let it slide. He clapped back with a cheeky, “Mentioning me was even a bit much.” Fans couldn’t get enough of it! One wrote, “😂😂 love your guy’s friendship,” while another chimed in, “Don’t you just love stray bullets…lol.” It’s the kind of banter that makes their bond so special.

This isn’t the first time their playful jabs have stolen the spotlight. During the Tulsa Shootout in early 2025, Kraft felt the urge to answer some fan questions on X, and Wallace’s name popped up once again. Kraft was asked by X user, Kelly Taylor, “Will you still be spotting for @BubbaWallace this season??” To which Kraft replied in typical style, “Unfortunately, Kelly, I’m stuck. No one else will deal with his a–.” This interaction sums up their social media banter perfectly, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. The radio jokes that Bubba had for Kraft earlier this season left fans in stitches!

During the race at Homestead-Miami Speedway earlier this season, Bubba Wallace put on a show. He fought wheel-to-wheel with Kyle Larson and ended up with a solid third-place finish, his best of the year so far! However, on the final lap, he decided to play a prank on Kraft, one that the spotter didn’t enjoy too much. Kraft said on the Door Bumper Clear podcast later that week, “What an a—h—-… He’s coming down the backstretch, coming to the checkered and he’s like ‘Oooh I got a tire down,’ I’m like ‘F—‘. Then I see he goes into [Turn] 3 hard and I’m like ‘You’re a f—— a–h—-‘.” This duo never fails to entertain, and moments like these are what fans cherish.

Through all the wins, crashes, and shade, Bubba and Freddie’s partnership remains unshakable. That’s what makes their story so captivating—they’re real, they’re raw, and they’ve always got each other’s backs. It’s not only Freddie, but his whole crew has got his back when the going gets tough for him.

Trending

1

“Love You”: Joe Gibbs Grandson in Mourning as Closest Friend of Years Passes Away

2

Kyle Busch Snags a Nearly $2 Billion Sponsor as RCR Prepares for Damage Control

3

Rodney Childers Announces New Career With Kevin Harvick, Making a Hard Steal Out of Spire’s Biggest Loss

4

FOX Broadcaster Gets Teary Eyed, Publicly Disclosing Emotional Moment as Call Mounts Against Jamie Little

5

“Condolences & RIP” NASCAR Community Joins in Mourning as One of Their Own Loses His Mother

Wallace is turning negatives into positives with his crew’s aid

After a devastating crash at Texas Motor Speedway, where Bubba Wallace was running strong before a wreck ended his day, the 23XI driver could’ve let despair take over. “I hate that I got into the fence. I think I was trying to give the No. 22 [Joey Logano] room. I just got the wall and started chaos,” Wallace told FOX reporter Bob Pockrass. Instead, he’s turned pain into power, and his story is hitting right in the feels.

“For our team, we’ve really been hitting on it all year long and it’s been fun to show up to the racetrack and be a car that’s in contention,” Wallace said. “There’s a couple of things we want to clean up to really keep putting our name into the hat, but I’m excited for our chances to show up every weekend. It’s something you want as a racecar driver.”

The road hasn’t been smooth. He’s been a consistent contender, with his No. 23 Toyota showing speed and his confidence growing. And when the chips were down during bad finishes, his crew chief, Charles Denike, was there by his side. “But Charles gave me a laundry list of all the positive things we accomplished from the start of the week all the way to Sunday,” revealed the 23XI driver.

Bubba Wallace has been winless for three years now, but he’s always been right up there. Contending for the win or making the daring move that puts him in a spot to benefit. He’s among the top-5 drivers to have spent the most time running in the top-10 this season, emphasizing the speed and potential his #23 Toyota has. It’s only a matter of time before Bubba is back in victory lane, and as the Cup Series heads to Kansas this weekend, it presents a chance for Bubba to claim victory where he has tasted it before.