Chase Elliott’s Injury Left Bubba Wallace’s Spotter “On the Fence” About NASCAR Drivers’ Extra-Curricular Activities

Bubba Wallace‘s spotter, Freddie Kraft, has some conflicting thoughts about NASCAR drivers engaging in extracurricular activities. This conversation was sparked by Chase Elliott‘s snowboarding injury, which caused him to miss the NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Elliott fractured his tibia while snowboarding, leading to him missing about six weeks of the season.

In the latest episode of the Door Bumper Clear podcast, Kraft was on the fence about the incident, stating that he believes drivers should live their lives but should also be smart enough not to put themselves at risk.

“Yeah, I’m kinda like, I’m on the fence here so bad […] you know, I’m of the opinion guy’s should live there life, I feel like you should put it in the hands, I don’t know, it needs to be contractual, but I feel like you should put it in the hands of the drivers to be smart enough to not put yourself at risk…”

Kraft added, “Do I have a problem with him going snowboarding? Not really. Do I have a problem with him going snowboarding a day before practice, probably less than 24 hours before practice? Maybe.”

“If you love snowboarding, do it in December.” 

“I Think When You…” – Chase Elliott’s Take on NASCAR’s Controversial Moves in Chicago and LA Proves Why He’s the Fan Favorite

Kraft suggests doing risky extra-curricular activities during NASCAR’s off-season, which typically starts in mid-November, after the final race of the season, and lasts until mid-February when the new season begins with the Daytona 500.

The double standard of social media on Elliott’s risky move

The incident sparked a social media frenzy, with many criticizing Elliott for his actions. However, Kraft pointed out that Elliott had engaged in other risky activities, such as racing a Midget with no prior experience, without facing similar criticism.

The NASCAR Spotter continued, “Twitter and everything blew up with “I guess you got your ‘What and Idiot’ for the week” you know… […] The thing that really cracked me up about this, you know, literally blew up hundreds of tweets about ‘There’s your ‘What an Idiot” […] The guy ran a Midget at the Chili Bowl, he ran a midget a bunch of times last year with no experience, no experience whatsoever, […] there was a line of people waiting for an autograph. While they were there were they shouting at him ‘Your an Idiot’ for doing this because your jeopardizing your season in the 9 car? No.”

The incident has raised questions about the balance between a driver’s personal life and their professional career. While drivers are contractually obligated to take precautions to avoid injury, they also have the freedom to pursue their interests outside of racing.

WATCH THIS STORY: Chase Elliott Agrees “Once You Have Kids, Then You Have to Have It” on America’s Favorite Morning Routine

The incident has also raised concerns about the impact of Elliott’s absence on the rest of the season. Hendrick Motorsports has turned to Josh Berry and Jordan Taylor to fill in for Elliott, with Berry driving the No. 9 Chevrolet on ovals and Taylor taking the wheel at Circuit of The Americas in Texas. Despite the setback, Hendrick general manager Jeff Andrews has expressed confidence in the team’s ability to secure a NASCAR waiver that would allow Elliott to be eligible for this season’s playoffs.

In conclusion, while drivers should be allowed to pursue their interests outside of racing, they must also take precautions to avoid injuries that could affect their racing careers. Fans must also remember that drivers are human and make mistakes. As Kraft said, “If you love snowboarding, do it in December,” when it doesn’t interfere with their professional obligations.