Bubba Wallace spotter Freddie Kraft gives No. 23 instructions: 'Drive the s*** out of it'

Bubba Wallace is in it to win it today at Michigan International Speedway. His crew chief Bootie Barker is keeping his head in the game. They aren’t points racing, the 23 team is looking for a trophy today and a spot in the NASCAR Playoffs.

Kyle Larson leads with Martin Truex Jr. behind and Bubba Wallace not far back after that. It has been a very interesting Stage 2 in the postponed FireKeepers Casino 400. Wallace and Barker are fired up today.

Barker chimed on the radio when Wallace asked him if he could do anything.

“I don’t think so. Drive the s**t out of it,” the crew chief said, via Dustin Long of NBC Sports.

#NASCAR … Bubba Wallace asks spotter Freddie Kraft on the radio: "You need me to do anything?

Freddie says: "I don't think so. Drive the s— out of it."

— Dustin Long (@dustinlong) August 19, 2024

While the sprits were riding high at the time, they would soon come crashing down. All it took was one bad move in front of Wallace and the 23 car was damaged and looking for answers.

With how delicate the points situation is on the bubble, every position matters. If Wallace can’t get out of the back of the field and at least get into the top-15, he is likely to drop from playoff contention. This race is getting into the nitty gritty and that means there isn’t a ton of time left to make a move.

Bubba Wallace wrecked in chaotic Kyle Larson spin

Kyle Larson came up in front of Bubba Wallace, got loose and spun out. Wallace drove right through the No. 5 car but took some damage from that hit and the wall.

This one is going to have huge regular season championship and playoff cutline implications.

Kyle Larson and Bubba Wallace were two of the best cars in the race. They took out a few other solid cars as well. The biggest consequences of this are going to be Chase Elliott closing the gap on Larson.

Ross Chastain, as far as the bubble drivers go, came out on top. He finished Stage 2 in P2. That’s 9 stage points on top of his 1 he picked up in Stage 1. Now Buescher and Wallace will try to get their cars dialed in again and race through the field. Easier said than done.

There will be more consequences from this wreck as the race develops. Michigan is putting on one hell of a show in this postponed race. While there have been wrecks, the racing is as good as it gets.

So, how does this play out? When it is all said and done who will lead the points and who will be in playoff position?