Many of the top NASCAR Cup series drivers often become broadcasters as soon as they retire from the sport, with the most recent example being 2014 Cup champion Kevin Harvick joining the Fox booth. Alongside communication skill, it demands analytical skill from the individuals, hence not everyone is up to the mark.
Recently, while discussing about the dramatic Richmond Cup race, ex-Hendrick Motorsports’ crew chief and sports analyst Steve Letarte pin-pointed Bubba Wallace of 23XI Racing as a future broadcaster. He was impressed by the No:23 Toyota driver who apologized to Kyle Larson for spinning him out on penultimate lap after carefully assessing the incident.
You know what? Bubba Wallace, maybe he’s destined to be in the TV Booth when his career is over because I think that analysis is pretty accurate right? Did Kyle Larson get a little loose? He did. Did Bubba Wallace run him over? he absolutely did. Not egregiously, he wasn’t thinking, ‘Oh I’m gonna spin Kyle Larson out right here,’ but that’s Bubba Wallace taking basically responsibility for the vehicle he drives… Steve Letarte told NBC.
The former race winning crew chief seems to be moved by Wallace’s decision to take responsibility of the car he drives despite the fact the No:5 car getting lose played major role in the incident. It would be interesting to see how the two time Cup race winner will perform in the booth as he hasn’t yet tried out a guest broadcaster appearance for Xfinity or Truck races like his peers.
Steve Letarte defends controversial caution call from NASCAR
Wallace spinning out Larson on the lap 499 changed the whole race as Martin Truex Jr. who was the race leader then lost the race on overtime to Denny Hamlin just because of it. There were criticism in the racing community, predominantly among fans that the late caution wasn’t needed. But Steve Letarte isn’t buying into those claims.
I think this caution is needed. You have a car sideways. You don’t know if he’s going to come back up the racetrack. I think that’s a must-throw caution for NASCAR. Steve Letarte said.
Letarte points are right as there shouldn’t be discussion about the caution call though Truex Jr. was wronged. Wallace should also not be getting much slack as it was the situation more than his action that led to the spin of Larson. All the driver involved have moved on and are now focusing on the upcoming race Martinsville.
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