Despite Denny Hamlin’s Firm Stance on NASCAR’s Recent Decision, Bubba Wallace’s Spotter Calls for “Need to Explore Different Options”

Recently, NASCAR announced they’d be coming back to Phoenix Raceway for the 2024 season to decide the championships. This was a decision that was met by a polarizing response as there were those who demanded the penultimate race of the year go to a different racetrack or away from Phoenix at least, for obvious reasons, and then there were those who liked that the championship would be decided there only. This pattern of the general response was also apparent in the 23XI Racing camp as co-owner Denny Hamlin said one thing while Bubba Wallace’s spotter said the other.

While Hamlin appreciated NASCAR’s decision to keep the championship weekend in Phoenix, Wallace’s spotter Freddie Kraft slammed that decision, demanding that the venue be changed for the most important race of the year.

Denny Hamlin appreciates NASCAR’s recent Phoenix decision

Speaking in a recent episode of his podcast show, Actions Detrimental, Hamlin claimed he likes NASCAR’s decision because he likes the venue, because he’s partial to that area, and because he likes that racetrack. And even though he understands the track gets a bad reputation because of the tire situation on it, it isn’t something that cannot be fixed.

“I think it always sells out, fans always come in a big way to that race,” he added. “I mean, where else are you gonna go in November?”

This led to his co-host Jared Allen mentioning that some fans want the championship race to move around, which he admitted is a tough thing to do considering the lack of options at that time of the year, on which Hamlin agreed.

“When you look at the average temperature of the first week in November. That’s why Homestead Miami was such a great venue for the championship finale because it was always 80 some degrees and it was beautiful,” the #11 driver described. “Same thing to go to Phoenix during that time, it’s beautiful weather and again, you’re getting fan support there, so why wouldn’t you?”

“But I get it from a competition standpoint where, ‘Hey, we keep going back to the same place. The racing hasn’t been spectacular there.’ I understand besides that argument.”

Freddie Kraft demands NASCAR shift the championship race away from Phoenix

Taking the opposite stance from his boss, Freddie Kraft claimed he doesn’t understand why NASCAR made the decision they’ve made, especially considering the recent successes in the month of May.

“The month of May for us was phenomenal with Kansas, Darlington, North Wilkesboro, Charlotte. All four races were great, the atmospheres were great,” he claimed. “The North Wilkesboro race might not have been the best race but the atmosphere there was unbelievable. And then we celebrate that by announcing that we’re going back to a racetrack for the championship race that Jamie McMurray came on here and said that, ‘We haven’t had a good race there since 1989.'”

“And he’s not wrong.”

The spotter elaborated on his opinion by pointing to the mismatch of the Next Gen car, its package, and the racetrack, claiming, “This car just doesn’t lend itself to good racing at a track like that right now.” Kraft added that NASCAR “really need to explore different options.”

Because as per him, running the championship race at Phoenix Raceway has run its course, that they’ve been doing this for three years now and it is still the same.