It’s the end of an era for Bubba Wallace and his fans, as the 23XI Racing driver will have a new crew chief in 2025. Charles Denike is set to replace Bootie Barker, who has been leading the No. 23 team since 2021. Barker played a pivotal role in Wallace’s career, helping him secure his first NASCAR Cup Series win and earning his first playoff appearance in 2023. However, this transition signals a fresh chapter for the 31-year-old driver, who will aim to achieve the same level of success as his teammate Tyler Reddick next season.
Charles Denike brings a wealth of NASCAR experience to the role. He began his career with Wood Brothers Racing, focusing on car setups and race strategies. Later, he served as team manager at Precision Performance Motorsports, overseeing K&N Pro Series East and Xfinity Series operations. It was during this time that Denike gained his first crew chief experience.
In 2016, Denike joined GMS Racing as a race engineer for their Truck and Xfinity Series programs. By 2020, he transitioned to a full-time crew chief role, guiding three Truck Series teams and earning two wins in three seasons. His success led to a move to McAnally-Hilgemann Racing in 2022, where he helped the No. 19 team secure its first win and a playoff berth. For the first time in his career, Denike will now take charge of a Cup Series team, succeeding Bootie Barker.
Bubba Wallace achieved a career milestone in 2023, making the NASCAR playoffs for the first time. Though he didn’t win a race, consistent performances throughout the season helped him accumulate enough points to secure a spot in the postseason. Wallace ultimately finished 10th in the driver standings, a significant improvement from his 19th-place finish in 2022.
However, Wallace’s 2024 season didn’t meet expectations. Despite earning six top-five finishes, he failed to secure a playoff spot. Meanwhile, teammate Tyler Reddick, driving the same equipment, advanced to the Championship 4. The lack of consistency prompted 23XI Racing to make changes, moving Bootie Barker into a competition leadership role at Airspeed and appointing Charles Denike as Wallace’s new crew chief in hopes of improving results in 2025.
Interestingly, Wallace outperformed Reddick in the playoff points tally, scoring 259 points compared to Reddick’s 247. Wallace also secured four top-10 finishes in the playoffs, whereas Reddick managed three. However, Reddick’s win at Homestead ultimately propelled him to the Championship 4, highlighting the need for 23XI to refine its approach to capitalize on key opportunities. This strategic shift explains why Barker remains a valued member of the organization despite his reassignment.
