23XI Racing announced that Bubba Wallace will no longer be driving the No. 23 Toyota Camry for the remainder of the season. Instead he will drive Kurt Busch’s No. 45 car.
Bubba Wallace via NASCAR YouTube
Wallace failed to qualify for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs finishing the regular season in 20th. However, his teammate Kurt Busch had previously qualified for the playoffs, but an injury sustained during a wreck at Pocono has sidelined him since.
In fact, 23XI Racing announced last week that Busch relinquished his medical waiver that had kept him eligible for the playoffs.
Busch posted on Twitter, “As much as I wanted and hoped to be able to get back in the No. 45 car to make a playoff run with our team, it’s still not the right time for me. In addition to not being cleared to return to racing, I know that I am not ready to be back in the car.”
Kurt Busch Twitter
In a press release, 23XI Racing announced “that Bubba Wallace, driver of the No. 23 Toyota Camry TRD, will switch car numbers for the final 10 races of the season and run the No. 45 as the organization pursues the Owner’s Championship.”
“Wallace will remain paired with his crew chief, Bootie Barker. The move will best position 23XI Racing and the No. 45 car for the strongest run in the playoffs for the Owner’s Championship,” the team added.
Bubba Wallace via NASCAR YouTube
Ty Gibbs, who had been piloting the No. 45 Toyota Camry in Busch’s absence will now pilot the No. 23 car.
The team stated, “Ty Gibbs will continue to serve as 23XI’s substitute driver and will now drive the No. 23 Toyota Camry TRD with Billy Scott remaining as the crew chief. Aside from the number being different, there will be no changes to the primary partners on either car.”
Ty Gibbs via NASCAR YouTube
The team’s president Steve Lauletta explained the decision, “After consulting with NASCAR, we made this decision in the best interest of the entire organization and for all our employees who helped earn a spot in the playoffs for the Owner’s Championship through their hard work.”
“While Ty has done a great job for us in the No. 45 car, we feel that Bubba’s experience in this car, at the upcoming playoff tracks and his recent momentum will give 23XI the best chance at maximizing our points each weekend. We recognize that this is a unique opportunity in the Cup Series, and we’re grateful to our employees and partners for standing with the team and supporting this decision,” he added.
Bubba Wallace via NASCAR YouTube
In the six races he’s started in the No. 45 Toyota Camry Gibbs has an average finish of 20th. He finished 16th at Pocono, 17th at the Brickyard, 10th at Michigan, 36 at Richmond, 26th at Watkins Glen and 13th most recently at Daytona.
Wallace has an average finish of 12th in those same six races. He finished 8th at Pocono, 5th at the Brickyard, 2nd at Michigan, 13th at Richmond, 35th at Watkins Glen, and 11th at Dayton.
As noted in 23XI Racing’s press release the decision to have Wallace drive the No. 45 car is “the first time in the Modern Era of the Cup Series that a team has been in one championship but not the other.”
Bubba Wallace via NASCAR YouTube
The move appears to signal that Kurt Busch will not be returning to the track at all this year. However, no mention of Busch was made in the press release.
Busch did react to the announcement on Twitter writing, “We are two cars but act as one team. This is another example of teamwork! I support Bubba Wallace and love the leadership I have seen out of him recently. Let’s make a run at the Championship!”
Kurt Busch Twitter
What do you make of 23XI Racing’s decision to have Wallace race in the No. 45 to compete for the Owner’s Championship?
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