NASCAR star Bubba Wallace set to miss race, but 23XI has a plan

NASCAR star Bubba Wallace is potentially set to miss a Cup Series race this month for family reasons, and his spotter has revealed 23XI Racing's plan to replace him.

Wallace and his wife, Amanda, are expecting their second child any time now, and the driver of the No. 23 Toyota revealed last month that he does not plan on missing the birth this time around, having not been there when his first son, Becks, was born.

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That leaves 23XI in a tough spot, particularly given the unpredictability of pregnancy and when the baby might arrive.

However, the team has a plan in place should Wallace need to step away, as revealed by his spotter, Freddie Kraft.

23XI's plan to replace Bubba Wallace

There's a plan A, plan B, and a plan C, as per Kraft, who detailed what could happen on this week's Door Bumper Clear podcast.

“Bubba's gonna have a baby here in the next month, and we're making plans for him probably missing a race if he has to,” Kraft explained.

“But you've got to have like three plans. Corey's [Heim] obviously on the list, I think he's the ‘A’ plan, I would say, but that would have to happen almost a day in advance because Corey can't fit; Corey and Bubba don’t line up in the car. So right now, we have another guy.

“So it's like they have three plans. If everything goes and Bubba's gonna be gone, and we know he's gonna be gone, it's gonna be Corey, probably, I would assume, and you've got a day to get ready and prepare the cockpit for Corey.

“But if it happens where we're a few hours out from the race, and then Amanda goes into labor, Bubba's got to leave, because right now I think she's due around Darlington.

"So, if he has to leave Darlington in a hurry, it's gonna be somebody else.”

The NASCAR Cup Series races at Darlington Raceway on March 22.

Will Bubba Wallace still be eligible for Cup Series championship?

If he does miss a race, Wallace would have to request a waiver from NASCAR to remain eligible for the Cup Series championship, as per the current rules.

Given recent precedent, it is highly likely that he would remain eligible.

Before the 2025 season began, NASCAR’s competition officials listed the birth of a child as one example of circumstances in which a driver would retain their eligibility for the postseason.

In 2025, Denny Hamlin missed the Cup Series race in Mexico City but remained eligible for the title after requesting and being granted such a waiver.