Bubba Wallace’s Spotter Declares Some Fans Are “Rooting for NASCAR to Fail”

Jeff Burton, Freddie Kraft and Tommy Baldwin had a serious discussion about the NASCAR fans and the championship format debate.

Bubba Wallace’s Spotter Declares Some Fans Are “Rooting for NASCAR to Fail”

Bubba Wallace's spotter Freddie Kraft criticized NASCAR fans (Images via offaxispaint.com, IMAGO and nascar.com)

🔍 Explore this post with:

ChatGPTPerplexityGrok AIGoogle AI

The discussion around the NASCAR playoff format has intensified since the start of the 2025 post-season and the whole community is divided over the sports’ future. Recently Hall of Fame nominee Jeff Burton was the guest in the Door Bumper clear podcast, where he discussed the topic with Tommy Baldwin and Bubba Wallace’s spotter Freddie Kraft.

During the discussion between them, Freddie Kraft who has been part of the sport for many decades made a bold statement after Jeff Burton highlighted the hypocritical nature of some comments from racing fans. He believes some fans are rooting for the sport to fail and called them out for just criticizing, while not offering anything productive to the debate.

You see people and it’s like they’re rooting for us to fail. I get on here and I get from NASCAR sometimes about being too critical or something. And I said, I love the sport. Like, I’m calling you out because I think what I’m saying is right. And I think this makes it better. Or I want it to be the best it can be. Like, we need to all figure out a way to lift it up, not just tear it down.

Freddie Kraft said via Door Bumper Clear podcast.

Legendary NASCAR personal Tommy Baldwin had a great one liner response to the comments from Kraft, as he highlighted how it easy for people to complain than be positive. Burton also chipped in, asserting that people who criticize certain things also has the responsibility to explain what and why they are complaining about.

Tommy Baldwin: Because it’s easy for people to complain than to be positive.

Jeff Burton: If you have a complaint and don’t like something, you should say it. But you should explain why.

Tommy Baldwin and Jeff Burton responded.

Jeff Burton slams criticism of stage racing from NASCAR  

In the same conversation earlier, Jeff Burton shared his thoughts on the hypocritical criticism of the stage racing format. He pointed out that the format offers the drivers, the sponsors and fans more opportunities, instead just boring non-stop event that is NASCAR sometimes. He highlighted that same people calling for 36-race championship format is calling out stage racing.

Jeff Burton
Jeff Burton (Via nascar.com)

You’ll have a group of people that say, well, stage racing is just giving something for nothing. That makes no sense whatsoever. That point system says, the better you do during the race, the more points you’re going to earn. Stage racing (expletive). The same people that say stage racing sucks say they want a 36 regular.

Jeff Burton said.

He called them out for this, reminding them that if they are debating the whole season should dictate the title winner, they should also admit the whole race should dictate who gets the most points, not just the last lap. This also offers more financial opportunities with commercial breaks as well as chances for team to employ different strategies.   

So, think about this. We want how you do through the whole year to matter. But that same person will say they don’t want it to matter during the race. So, it gives two commercial breaks so you don’t miss anything. And it rewards the people for doing well during the freaking race. I don’t understand how you don’t think that’s a good thing. I don’t get it.

Jeff Burton added.

The comments from the former RCR racer seems rational as the racing is more competitive as well as entertaining because of the current format. Critics of NASCAR should understand one thing, return to the legacy format is not possible, so instead of complaining they should try to work with NASCAR to develop the current format to the better version of it.

Also Read: Kyle Petty Sends Bold Reminder About Playoffs Uncertainty to JGR After “Pure Dominance” in R-16