Trouble for Bubba Wallace: Loses Left Front After Loose Lug, Hit with Costly Penalty. The No. 23 team’s race takes a sharp turn after a pit road miscue leads to a lost tire and a double penalty.
A Nightmare Sequence on Pit Road
During the mid-stages of Sunday’s race, chaos struck for Bubba Wallace and the No. 23 Toyota team when the car lost its left front tire after exiting pit road — the result of a loose lug nut. The tire detached just past pit exit, forcing Wallace to stop on track and triggering a full-course caution.
Double Trouble: Pitting Outside the Box
As if losing a wheel wasn’t costly enough, the team was hit with a second penalty when the No. 23 was ruled to have pitted outside the designated box after the No. 19 crew (Martin Truex Jr.’s team) rushed over to assist in reattaching the tire during the scramble.
According to NASCAR rules, pitting outside the box and having assistance from another team both constitute infractions — making the situation even worse for Wallace and 23XI Racing.
The Fallout: Drive-Through and More
Wallace was hit with a drive-through penalty under green and fell a lap down as a result. NASCAR also announced the crew chief would face post-race review, as wheel infractions often lead to multi-race suspensions for the responsible pit crew members.
Wallace on the Radio: “Unreal, Guys.”
Bubba’s frustration came through clearly over the team radio:
“Unreal, guys. We had a top-10 car today. This can’t happen.”
Still Racing, But With an Uphill Battle
Despite the setback, Wallace returned to the track and aimed to race for the free pass, hoping for another caution to climb back on the lead lap. His speed remained solid, but the momentum from a strong Stage 1 run was derailed.
What’s Next for 23XI Racing
This incident could have larger implications as the playoff cutoff looms and Wallace sits on the bubble in the standings. Any lost points at this stage of the season could prove pivotal.
Team co-owner Denny Hamlin is expected to comment post-race.
One thing is certain: pit road execution is everything — and today, it bit the 23 hard.
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