Bubba Wallace Insider Fears Unexpected NASCAR Stars Could Be Ousted at High-Stakes Roval Showdown

The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs just got even more intense after a wild night at Bristol Motor Speedway, where Christopher Bell snapped his 24-race winless streak with a thrilling victory amid chaos on the track. Spins sent cars sliding, and Josh Berry’s ride turned into a fireball, forcing him out early and adding to the drama. This Round of 16 finale eliminated Alex Bowman, Austin Dillon, Shane van Gisbergen, and Josh Berry, paving the way for a fresh battle among the top 12. As teams regroup, the garage buzzes with talk of what’s next in this cutthroat chase.

Denny Hamlin sits atop the standings with a 26-point cushion, followed closely by William Byron and Kyle Larson, while Bubba Wallace holds a slim +1 edge above the cutline. Speculation is rife about who might not survive the Round of 12, especially with the unpredictable Roval looming as the decider after New Hampshire and Kansas. Freddie Kraft, Bubba Wallace’s spotter, voiced worries about who might potentially face an upset in the Round of 8. So, who might it be?

Freddie Kraft sounds an alarm on the Roval upsets

On the Door Bumper Clear podcast, Freddie Kraft, spotter for Bubba Wallace, didn’t mince words when discussing the Round of 12, hinting at vulnerabilities even among the frontrunners. “Somebody in this top eight is going to have a problem. I hope it’s not us. One of these guys, somebody’s going to run an issue somewhere,” Kraft said, underscoring how a single mishap at tracks like New Hampshire, Kansas, or the Roval could derail a strong campaign.

This comes as Bubba Wallace enters the round just one point above the cutline, making any slip-up costly. Kraft’s insight stems from observing the tight points battle, where even consistent performers risk falling if luck turns sour. Kraft emphasized the Roval’s pivotal role, noting, “The Roval is going to be the key because I think the first two races are going to close this gap up to a point that’s going to be eight guys.” He predicted a scenario where eight drivers enter Charlotte with their seasons on the line, amplifying the pressure on the 2.28-mile road course known for its 17 turns and history of chaos since its 2018 debut.

Currently, the playoff standings look something like:

For Wallace, this is particularly concerning given his track record there, where turns and elevation changes often lead to wrecks and strategy gambles: seven starts with zero wins, an average finish of 18.1, and a best of seventh in 2022. Poor qualifying and mid-pack runs have plagued him, raising fears that an unexpected issue could oust him despite solid speed elsewhere. Adding to the tension, Kraft pointed out, “I’m going to call it right now, and there’s going to be eight guys going into the Roval that can; they’re going to have a chance to go home.”

Wallace’s 2025 season has been strong with playoff qualification, currently sitting at 12 Top-10s and 4 Top-5s with 355 laps led, but a weak Roval outing could end it abruptly, echoing past upsets like the 2020 race, where multiple leaders, including Chase Elliott, Martin Truex Jr., and Brad Keselowski, faltered. Kraft’s comments reflect a broader garage sentiment that no spot is safe in this format. The Roval’s reputation for surprises makes Kraft’s warnings all the more relevant, but he also touched on bigger-picture ideas for the playoffs. This leads to discussions about evolving the championship structure to keep things fresh.

Spotter eyes playoff format shift

Freddie Kraft expressed a personal lean toward traditional scoring but acknowledged the need for excitement in the current setup. “I, personally, would want a full season format,” he noted, reflecting on how a year-long points battle might reward consistency over high-stakes rounds. Yet, with NASCAR eyeing changes for 2026, like a rumored 3-3-4 structure, he sees value in blending formats to keep fans engaged without overhauling everything.

He elaborated on the compromise, saying, “But I know that there’s gotta be a balance somewhere. I think this is a good compromise where you don’t have a one-race playoff; you have a four-race playoff.” This highlights ongoing discussions to expand the finale, potentially reducing the all-or-nothing pressure at Phoenix while covering diverse tracks, which could benefit versatile drivers like Wallace, who thrive on ovals but adapt to roads.

Rumors add intrigue, as Kraft revealed, “Now we’re gonna go to basically every damn racetrack…we hit all different racetracks if this is what happens. I think it’s gonna be, the rumors I’ve heard, six drivers probably.” This suggests a six-driver championship field, drawing from garage talk and aligning with efforts to boost drama, though no official confirmation exists yet from NASCAR. Do you think this would be efficient?