“I’m spotting for Ty Dillon, but there’s this kid, Bubba Wallace, is looking for a spotter for K&N, would you mind doing it?” Mike Herman Jr., Ty Dillon’s former spotter, had asked Freddie Kraft. Reluctantly, Kraft agreed. This incident happened 15 years ago, and who knew this would be the start of one of NASCAR’s most entertaining driver-spotter partnerships?
Since that day, Wallace and Kraft have developed a relationship that goes far beyond racing. Their radio conversations are a perfect mix of strategy, motivation, and straight-up comedy. Whether it’s Bubba cracking jokes mid-race or Kraft giving it right back to him, fans have grown to love their unfiltered dynamic.
But Wallace may have just pulled his best prank yet—a last-lap fake-out that had his team in a frenzy before revealing the ultimate punchline.
Bubba Wallace pulls a fast one on Freddie Kraft
Bubba Wallace needed a strong result, and he delivered at Homestead-Miami. After a rough start to the 2025 season, Wallace finally looked like his old self. He ran up front all day, battling heavyweights like Alex Bowan, Kyle Larson, and Ryan Blaney. When the checkered flag waved, Wallace crossed the line in third—his best finish of the season so far. However, Wallace’s impressive run at Homestead wasn’t just about speed. It was also a reminder of the fun-loving personality that makes him a fan favorite.
Wallace has never shied away from his funny side, be it with jabs on X after getting shown the finger at Bowman Gray, where he wrote, “I’m gonna guess more fingers than teeth on that cat.” And when it comes to Freddie Kraft, he loves the odd jibe. The two constantly joke around, even in the heat of competition. Just recently, Kraft jokingly called Wallace a “b–” on the Door Bumper Clear podcast. Wallace took it in stride. Their playful off-track dynamic keeps fans entertained, no matter how intense the on-track competition gets.
But, at Homestead-Miami, Bubba Wallace had a hilarious trick up his sleeve. As the final lap unfolded, with Wallace holding his position in third, he decided to test his team’s nerves. He radioed in with a panic-inducing message: “Oh, I think I got a tire down.” The tension spiked—Kraft was stunned in silence. Only for Wallace to immediately follow it up with the classic, “Just kidding.” Kraft’s response? A furious yet hilarious, “You’re such an a——–.” The moment quickly went viral.
On the last lap…
“I think I got a tire down.” – Bubba
…
“Just kidding.” – Bubba
“Oh you fucking asshole.” – Freddie
— Sarah Davis Bubba fan // 23XI stan (@sarahdavisagain) March 23, 2025
This kind of chemistry is what makes Wallace and Kraft such a fan-favorite duo. While other teams keep their radio chatter strictly business, these two mix competition with comedy. Even during high-pressure moments, they find ways to have fun. Wallace’s prank may have annoyed Kraft at the moment, but it perfectly captured their unbreakable bond. This prank perfectly captured Wallace’s mood as he was finally able to muster a good finish after a string of uninspiring results.
After finishing 9th at Atlanta, Wallace went on an abysmal three-race streak, finishing 20th, 29th, and 28th place. However, that doesn’t tell the full story. Wallace led laps at COTA and even won the first stage, but could not convert it into a strong finish. Phoenix was the first race, and the only one this season, where Wallace didn’t pick up any stage points throughout the race. At Vegas, he once again led 20 laps and finished 4th in both stages, but the outcome was just 1 position better than Atlanta. Taking all this into context, the third-place finish at Homestead-Miami Speedway feels like retribution.
Wallace is finally hitting his stride and when he is in a good mood, he is always joking around with Kraft. The prank at Homestead is surely the first of many Wallace will attempt this season and let’s just hope he doesn’t speak a flat tire into reality anytime soon!
Fans, of course, had plenty to say about the prank. Some found it hilarious, others thought Wallace went too far. As always, NASCAR on X and Reddit exploded with takes. Let’s dive into how the fanbase reacted to this last-lap trickery.
Fans applaud Bubba Wallace’s sense of humor
Bubba Wallace’s prank may have given his spotter a minor heart attack, but fans absolutely loved it. Many took to social media to praise his lighthearted approach, with one fan stating, “Been super proud of you guys this year. Different Bubba and I’m loving it.” His strong finish combined with his humor is winning over new supporters. Well, fans unanimously agree that fatherhood has had a positive impact on Bubba, which reflects on his on-track performance and off-track demeanor.
Wallace was in contention to win at Homestead. He led 56 laps, only second to his best friend, Ryan Blaney at 124, and even held this lead until Alex Bowman overtook him on Lap 235. Wallace still battled hard, but let Larson overtake him too, as he expected the HMS drivers to battle it out while he profited. While it didn’t work as planned, fans were impressed with his positive attitude despite the result. One fan noted, “Glad to hear him still in good spirits after that one. That’s going to be the key all year! What a run!”
Some fans, however, weren’t prepared for the prank, admitting it gave them quite a scare. “Scared the s— outta my whole house, Bubba!” one user confessed. Wallace’s well-timed joke caught many off guard, but once they realized it was all in good fun, the reactions turned into laughter. Moments like these make NASCAR radio exchanges as entertaining as the race itself.
Others compared Wallace’s humor to legendary drivers like Carl Edwards, who was known for his pranks. “Carl used to pull that stuff too! I’m glad my favorites have a sense of humor!” a fan pointed out. Carl Edwards captured the hearts of NASCAR fans with his lighthearted jokes and one of the best examples is from 2011, when he turned a biblical reference into a hilarious bit of comedy.
Edwards, driving the #99 Ford, asked his spotter, “You know Noah, built the ark. I was asking if you knew why he didn’t fish a lot?” His spotter, Bob Osborne, audibly annoyed, replied, “I’m not even going to take the time to think about that right now.” Edwards responded, “He only had two worms, Bob,” while containing his laughter. Bob Osborne was shaking his head in disappointment, as Edwards grinned away. The closest we have to this in modern-day racing is surely Bubba Wallace and Freddie Kraft.
Amidst all the reactions, there was even a hilarious case of misreporting. “Fox missed the just kidding part and reported that ya actually did have a tire going down,” a fan laughed. Even the broadcast team wasn’t immune to Wallace’s perfectly executed joke. One thing is clear – this playful side of Bubba Wallace is making him even more of a fan favorite.
The post Fans Thrilled With Bubba Wallace’s Hidden Avatar as He Tests His Team With a Late-Race Prank appeared first on EssentiallySports.