Bubba Wallace addresses concerns about his future as 23XI faces courtroom crisis

Bubba Wallace has broken his silence amid ongoing concerns about his future, as his team 23XI Racing finds itself caught in a legal battle that could change the NASCAR Cup Series. The comments came during a media appearance captured by Frontstretch, where Wallace was asked directly about the turmoil 23XI Racing is facing after a critical court ruling threatened the team’s charter status.

In response to questions about his future and the court decision, Wallace deflected with dry humor. He shared [0:20 onwards]:

“I'm here so I don't get fined… everything's great, right?” “You can let Denny comment on that stuff… you're not going to get an answer that you want to hear from me,” Bubba Wallace added.

The heart of the matter is the recent federal appeals court decision overturning a prior ruling in favor of 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports. The teams had previously secured a preliminary injunction allowing them to race in the 2025 season as chartered entries—a status that guarantees entry into races and larger payouts. However, on Thursday, June 5, that decision was reversed, giving NASCAR the legal grounds to strip each team of three charters.

Bubba Wallace, the star driver for 23XI, now faces a season filled with uncertainty. While Wallace has maintained focus on racing, the broader implications could affect everything from his team’s operational funding to his ability to qualify for events.

Without charters, 23XI Racing would operate as an “open” team. That means no guaranteed entry into races and significantly lower financial rewards. Charters are valued in the tens of millions, and their loss would be a heavy financial blow. While the ruling doesn’t take effect for two weeks, giving the teams time to appeal, its impact is already being felt.

The federal appeals court ruling has now placed 23XI Racing and Bubba Wallace in a challenging position for the rest of the 2025 season. The team, co-owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan, may be forced to compete without charter protections — essentially turning a top-tier operation into a vulnerable contender.

---

“Just glad May is over” – Bubba Wallace rebounds with strong Nashville finish

Bubba Wallace, driving for 23XI Racing, delivered his best performance in months at Nashville Superspeedway, finishing sixth in the Cracker Barrel 400. After three straight DNFs that dropped him from seventh to 12th in the Cup Series standings, Wallace clawed his way back with a composed and strategic race.

Despite a speeding penalty on Lap 44 that dropped him a lap down, Wallace fought back with support from crew chief Charles Denike. He rejoined the lead lap at the start of Stage 2 and gradually gained ground. The sixth-place finish was his first top-ten since April and his highest result since March.

In a post-race interview with TobyChristie.com, Wallace acknowledged to having possibly jinxed the team earlier in the season.

“After those back-to-back top-three finishes, I expected that every week, and I think that may have jinxed us,” he said. “I hope I didn’t say that again and jinx us again. We just had shit luck the last month, so I’m glad May is over with,” Wallace added.

Wallace, who expressed confidence in the team’s ability to be more consistent and overcome recent struggles, now sits 10th in the driver standings with 343 points. He has secured two top-five and five top-10 finishes in 2025, though a win still eludes him. His average start this season is 13.57, while his average finish is 19.71.

Get the latest NASCAR All-Star race news, Xfinity Series updates, breaking news, rumors, and today’s top stories with the latest news on NASCAR.

Edited by Samya Majumdar