“You’re the driver’s metaphorical eyes. You’re constantly feeding them information: how to drive, what to do if they wreck, and where people are driving. Sometimes you’re a cheerleader,” Tyler Reddick’s spotter Nick Payne had once said perfectly summing up just how critical spotters are in the high-speed, high-stakes world of NASCAR. These men and women perched above the track aren’t just giving updates. They’re often the thin line between control and catastrophe. And yet, despite their importance, not every venue treats their role with the seriousness it deserves.

According to Bubba Wallace, NASCAR has some glaring blind spots (literally and figuratively) when it comes to spotter safety. And in true Bubba fashion, he didn’t hold back when he finally decided to speak out.

The conversation reared its head when a media personnel asked the driver on June 27, “In terms of communication with your spotter, what is that like? Is there areas where you’re kind of riding blind and they’re not really able to kind of give you a guidance of what’s going on there? And how’s that going to hurt other courses?”

To this, Wallace responded pointedly, “I think the way that the spotters are treated, not really treated, but their opinion at some of the tracks that we go to is complete BS.” He then turned his head toward the enquiring journalist and asked back, “Spotters into turn one in Mexico…Do you know where they were standing?” and then responded right away, “You can’t see anything.”

“So if we want to talk about safety and all this stuff, either say we’re not racing with spotters or get them in a position and make sure the area is safe for them to operate in to give us the safety and the protocols that we need…Sticking them behind trees or behind banners or whatever is at this point where we’re at in the year is completely unacceptable.” So, what exactly triggered this reaction from the 23XI driver?

Well, Bubba Wallace specifically targeted the tricky Turn One at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. You might recall that this is a tight, right-hand turn that leads into a challenging hairpin. At this venue, spotters play a crucial role, communicating vital information about track conditions, car positions, and potential hazards. his is a significant concern, as limited visibility can compromise the safety of both drivers and spotters, who must be positioned strategically to provide effective guidance. The problem is exemplified due to other factors like the weather. Remember Kyle Busch losing control and spinning into other cars at Turn 1 at the recent race?

Wallace also noted that his spotter, Freddie, “was in the stadium section and was able to call a lot of corners.” While the stadium section, located around turns 13, 14, and 15, offers improved sightlines for spotters due to its layout, Wallace pointed out that “still there’s some blind sections.”

This inconsistency in spotter placement and visibility is not unique to Mexico. At the Chicago Street Race, for example, spotters are positioned in certain areas but face similar challenges with blind spots caused by the urban environment, limited infrastructure, and temporary barriers.

As the series continues to expand to new and unique venues, how will it ensure that safety, particularly for spotters, remains a top priority and not just an afterthought? But while we contemplate that, let’s look at what Wallace is doing for himself.

Bubba Wallace needs to step up his game

Bubba Wallace’s playoff hopes are on the line as the NASCAR Cup Series heads into its final nine regular-season races. After a bad outing for 23XI at Pocono, including a costly DNF, and a string of underwhelming results, Wallace’s once-comfortable cushion above the playoff cut line has shrunk dramatically. He now sits in 12th place after three Top-5s and six Top-10s.

Wallace’s struggles are compounded by a winless drought stretching back to 2022. Now, this has left him without the security of an automatic playoff berth.

The “win and you’re in” rule has already filled 11 of the 16 playoff spots. Now, this means that any new winners from outside the current top 16 could push Wallace even closer to the brink. NASCAR insider Steve Letarte voiced his concern, noting, “Even Bubba Wallace, who is a chunk above, right? 57 points above in 13th. That scares me.” Well, this is a tough spot, and the pressure is mounting.

So, here’s the verdict. The margin of error for Bubba Wallace is razor-thin. And with so many potential spoilers in the mix, every stage point and finish will matter as the regular season winds down.