23XI Racing’s Crew Chief Mike Wheeler shared his opinions on his team’s performance on the Daytona Road Course.
After months of hype about the new team partnered by NBA legend Michael Jordan and veteran Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin, 23XI Racing is finally in action and has completed two races in the 2021 Cup Series season.
Additionally, with Bubba Wallace on board as a driver, the team has laid high expectations for this season and more so for the seasons to come.
However, after two races into the season, the team has not been very good in terms of performance. Wallace could only finish as high as 17 in Daytona 500 and in the Daytona Road Course, he was worse than his first performance, registering a 26th place finish.
The team’s Crew Chief Wheeler is however optimistic that it is a part of the learning process for the team. He said:
“It was a reality check. We knew at some point we’d have hiccups. It’s part of the growing pains we’ll go through.”
💬 on yesterday pic.twitter.com/TdzbX7nFKx
— 23XI Racing (@23XIRacing) February 22, 2021
As a new team with a driver who hasn’t won a Cup race in his career, it will be too much to expecting wins from them starting from the beginning. With almost all the season left to play for, better finishes will surely follow for the team. But they will need to show a lot more than what we have seen until now if they want to compete for wins in their debut season.
[Read More: Wins from McDowell and Bell have changed the “dynamic” of 2021 playoffs – Keselowski]
Bubba isn’t a decent driver that’s a fact!!!!
Talent has no race or color; you can drive and compete at that level or not. Michael Jordons favorite color is GREEN MONEY. You be assured if Wallace does not perform, he will be replaced .
Sooner or later, MJ will realize he didn’t pick a winning driver. 17th at Daytona was luck due to wrecks, he was running much worse . Road course finish, is what you got. No wins in this team’s future.
When you cant Drive you cant win just what it is no matter how much TV coverage you get at the end of the day he is a Race Car Driver and performance is a most there is a difference when your on TV and your a Race Car Driver versus a Race Driver
He was running worse….? Uh…? You mean when he was in the top 5 at many points during day, and only went a lap down when his crew let him down with a loose wheel? Not sure what race you watched bud.
stay the course . BUBBA
MJ & DH knew they picked a non winning driver. All they wanted was the publicity of a B driver. By the way, isn’t he just as W as B. They knew, no publicity from a W driver. I blame nascar for all of this. They r as chicken **** as the nfl.
Anyone who watched Bubba run the Roval the first time and remembers it, is not surprised at his road racing finishes. If he finishes at all, it would not be in a whole car. He is gonna have upper tier cars, but with any startup group there break-in problems. I just wish the press would stop covering the social issues and concentrate on the racing issues. I understand NASCAR’S desire to expand their fan base, but don’t **** off the fans you still have! I turn to sports to get away from that crap. When the sports embrace them, I turn them off. NFL, NBA, Women’s Soccer.
I would not let him drive my riding lawn mower,I can see him crashing that. the new DANICA
For the record, Bubba and Danica ran in the same Cup race 5 times. Wallace finished ahead of Patrick 4
times.
Wallace’s results: 0 wins, 1 top five, 1 top ten, Avg Finish 14.6
Patrick’s; results: 0 wins, 0 top fives, 0 top tens, Avg Finish 25.6
I think he can run in top ten if NASCAR gives him a lap head start.
That’s a good one! Funny AF!
Bubba is a good driver in good equipment. However there are about 15 drivers and 15 cars that are GREAT. Great will win over good 100% of the time.
I believe that Bubba has the ability to perform at the CUP level. I believe he did as well as could be expected at RPM with an underfunded team. This a totally new team so stop with the negative comments after two races. He’s got better equipment and better finishes will come.
Bubba has the best equipment money can buy , a good pit crew but he performs at the talent level of a back marker. Al
l this will not make him a great driver, maybe several more years in the truck series would help.
Hell, danica was a better driver than Bubba.
Bubba will be successful this year.
The stats dont back your statement. Bubba is an average driver. Which you will get average results. This was all a money play for sponsor interest. Knowing they will spot light Bubba cause of his C and drives for a B owner. Its all the rage in America right now!
Put Ryan preece in that car
Why can you say that Timmy Hill S and get uh huhs and head nods yet you say Wallace S you get called a W supremacist?
there were many better drivers to choose from, this is just publicity crap, Wallace is a half B Danica
Wheeling those stockers at 200+ MPH is no joke, one needs huge balls, either you have it or you dont.
A little patience, time will make the decision on him.
Wishing all good things for Bubba.
OK, so Bubba finishes 17th in the 500, and 26th in the road course and he is a lousy racer, but these guys are behind him in the standings and their skills are?? Give the kid a break the season is only 2 races in.
13 23BUBBA WALLACE
14 19MARTIN TRUEX, JR
15 7COREY LAJOIE
16 47RICKY STENHOUSE JR
17 18KYLE BUSCH
18 17CHRIS BUESCHER
19 12RYAN BLANEY
20 42ROSS CHASTAIN
21 10ARIC ALMIROLA
22 JAMIE MCMURRAY
23 48ALEX BOWMAN
24 6RYAN NEWMAN
25 99DANIEL SUAREZ
26 43ERIK JONES
27 14CHASE BRISCOE
28 38ANTHONY ALFREDO
29 24WILLIAM BYRON
30 JOEY GASE
31 15JAMES DAVISON
32 52JOSH BILICKI
33 8TYLER REDDICK
34 KAZ GRALA
35 78SCOTT HECKERT
36 00QUIN HOUFF
37 21MATT DIBENEDETTO
38 DAVID RAGAN
39 DERRIKE COPE
Like the man said. He MIGHT win if they give him a couple of laps head start. He’s never won and he shouldn’t be expected to start now. His owners are just hopping on the band wagon to turn NASCAR into the NBA or NFL. RN are leaving in droves.