Bubba Wallace is getting a new crew chief, with 23XI Racing announcing Wednesday that Charles Denike will replace Bootie Barker for Wallace’s No. 23 team beginning with the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Wallace and Barker have been paired together since the fall of 2021. During their time together, Barker guided Wallace to his first career Cup win in 2021, a second victory in 2022 and a first-ever playoff berth in 2023.
But 2024 has been an up-and-down season for the No. 23 team. Although Wallace has already set career-highs in top-five finishes, top-10s and average finish this season, he has not won a race nor did he qualify for the playoffs. The change comes amid teammate Tyler Reddick winning last Sunday’s playoff race — his third victory of the season — to earn a spot in next month’s championship final. Barker will remain with 23XI in a behind-the-scenes competition role.
Charles Denike to crew chief Bubba Wallace and the No. 23 team next year, replacing Bootie Barker who remains with the team in a behind-the-scenes role. Denike is currently the crew chief for Christian Eckes in the Truck Series.
— Jordan Bianchi (@Jordan_Bianchi) October 30, 2024
“23XI has been good to me, and I hope I have been as good for 23XI,” Barker said in a news release. “Loyalty is important to me and I will continue to do all I can in my new role to help everyone here succeed. I was fortunate to be a part of 23XI’s inception, and I look forward to being a part of the team’s continued journey.”
Denike is currently the crew chief for Christian Eckes at McAnally-Hilgemann Racing in the Truck Series and is highly respected within the garage. In addition to leading Eckes to seven combined wins over the past two years, Eckes also won the 2024 regular season points title this season and is currently positioned to make the championship final in that series.
Denike joins a 23XI organization that has seen its co-owners, NBA legend Michael Jordan and star NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin, invest heavily into growing the five-year-old team into one that can consistently win races and make the playoffs.
“I am excited for the 2025 season with the No. 23 team and to work with Bubba and all of 23XI Racing beginning in the offseason,” Denike said. “Bubba is a proven winner, and I believe we will bring out the best in each other.
“Thank you to Michael, Denny, and Dave (Rogers, competition director) for the opportunity to join the 23XI family. They have built an incredible culture at Airspeed. I am a believer that winning is a process. When you step foot into Airspeed, you see the tools and resources that it takes to win and are surrounded by people with the same vision and mindset. I am looking forward to this next chapter and to be able to contribute to 23XI’s growth and journey to winning championships.”
Required reading
- Why are 23XI and Front Row suing NASCAR? Here’s what you need to know
- NASCAR Cup Series playoff odds, expert predictions for Homestead-Miami race: Kyle Larson, Tyler Reddick shine on this track
(Photo: James Gilbert / Getty Images)
