A sleepless night time and dogged dedication laid the groundwork for what has change into the highest new driver/crew chief mixture three races into the NASCAR Cup season.
It began when Dave Rogers, competitors director at 23XI Racing, wakened round 2 a.m. one night time final 12 months occupied with work.
“I used to be looking for who’s the following (Cup) crew chief coming from the Truck Collection,” he mentioned.
It appears an odd thought for an govt of a group that will win final 12 months’s Cup common season title and place a automobile within the championship race, however Rogers already knew the Xfinity crew chiefs. He wasn’t as versed about these within the Truck Collection.
In a preview of the championship, the 1-mile oval will play host to the highest two nationwide circuits.
Rogers’ work led him to what he was searching for, but it surely took some coaxing.
“I’m persistent,” Rogers mentioned. “It’s simply my nature.”
And the consequence, the pairing of Bubba Wallace and crew chief Charles Denike, has already proved worthwhile.
Take into account:
Wallace ranks sixth — highest amongst drivers with a brand new crew chief this 12 months — within the standings;
Wallace’s 94 factors is greater than 20 above his common by way of the primary three races of a season since he’s been at 23XI Racing;
He gained his Daytona qualifying race;
He certified on the entrance row for the primary time in a Cup road-course race final weekend at Circuit of the Americas;
He gained a stage final weekend at COTA.
“I actually consider,” 23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin mentioned of Denike, “he’ll be a game-changer for 23XI. He’s particular. All I can say is I am glad we discovered him.”
Bubba Wallace wants a quick begin
The message is obvious: Wallace must run higher early within the season.
“That’s the purpose of emphasis,” Hamlin mentioned.
“Little doubt about it. They’ve had 10-to-12 race stretches in his profession the place he has been a top-five driver and group. … They’ve not put it collectively for a full season but.”
Kyle Busch appears to be like to proceed his robust run these days.
Wallace has made the playoffs solely as soon as in his Cup profession. He did so in 2023 — clinching the final spot within the regular-season finale.
He has by no means gained a Cup race within the common season. Each of his collection victories got here within the playoffs in years he was not racing for a championship.
So factors have been key for Wallace, however he’s failed to attain sufficient most years to increase his season. Usually, the issues could be traced to sluggish begins.
Wallace has averaged 4.6 fewer factors per race within the first 12 occasions of a season in comparison with his level complete within the remaining 14 races within the common season the previous three years.
Had he matched his productiveness from the again finish to the entrance finish final 12 months, he would have secured a playoff spot.
“This sport is so arduous,” Wallace mentioned. “Being on the Cup degree the wins don’t come usually, and it’s important to be able to pounce after they do. That’s what we’re trying ahead to.”
An surprising textual content message
So how does one examine crew chiefs from one other collection?
“I simply began watching tape and listening to audio,” Rogers mentioned. “It was like, ‘Wow, this Christian Eckes man is coming alongside fairly good. What’s occurring right here? Seemed up the (group) roster, who’s the crew chief. I realized it was Charles Denike, and I simply began researching the progress that group had made and (it was like), ‘Wow, that is fascinating.’
“He took a group and actually helped construct it. If you consider 23XI, that’s what we’re doing proper now.”
What Rogers’ analysis confirmed was that Denike had been a crew chief within the Truck Collection since 2020. Denike began with GMS Racing and moved to McAnally-Hilgemann Racing in the course of the 2022 season.
He was paired in 2023 with Eckes, a 22-year-old. Eckes gained 4 races that season and positioned fifth within the factors. They remained collectively final 12 months and the duo gained 4 races, the regular-season championship, and Eckes positioned third in factors.
Rogers additionally noticed that Denike had been within the U.S. Military for 9 years as an engineer officer, so “he’s into processes.” The extra Rogers came upon about Denike, the extra he appreciated.
“I simply want to fulfill this man,” Rogers mentioned.
So he texted Denike sooner or later to see about any curiosity in assembly to debate being with a Cup group.
The reception was surprising.
“I didn’t assume he was actually excited by Cup racing,” Rogers mentioned.
The proper individual for the job
Though McAnally-Hilgemann Racing had but to win a Truck race when Denike joined the group in 2022, he noticed what it may change into.
“My aim on the Truck Collection crew chief degree was attempting to be transformational with that program,” Denike mentioned. “There was a complete lot of potential in that program, but it surely wanted some vital steps to maneuver it ahead.
“Sort of the ultimate step was when Christian received there and we had been in a position to put all that collectively. Via the course of 2023 and 2024 you’re attempting to showcase what you consider you’re in a position to do and proceed to construct on it.”
Denike’s focus was on that when he acquired a textual content message from a quantity he didn’t acknowledge.
“However then you definitely see the primary sentence or two,” Denike recalled, “and also you say, ‘Possibly I have to learn this.’”
Denike wasn’t trying to depart his job and wasn’t centered on the Cup Collection, however he agreed to speak to Rogers.
It wasn’t till Richmond in August that Rogers felt issues modified with Denike’s curiosity — and it occurred after an opportunity encounter.
Rogers and Denike occurred to cross after the Richmond Truck race, which noticed Eckes sit on the pole and end second. On the best way from pit highway to the McAnally-Hilgemann hauler, they talked.
“I used to be a bit of torn on what to do,” Denike mentioned of if to pursue the 23XI Racing job.
Rogers beneficial that Denike speak to Billy Scott, crew chief for Tyler Reddick at 23XI Racing, and Mike Wheeler, a former Cup crew chief who now oversees operations at 23XI Racing.
“That basically, I’d say, was the catalyst to proceed ahead,” Denike mentioned.
He and Rogers continued to speak concerning the place.
“After getting deep within the dialog, I used to be satisfied that he was the man for this,” Rogers mentioned.
Challenges met
A few weeks earlier than the top of a season that noticed Wallace earn profession bests in top-five and top-10 finishes and common end place, 23XI Racing introduced that Wallace would have a brand new crew chief for 2025.
Bootie Barker had been Wallace’s crew chief since late within the 2021 season. They had been collectively for 110 races. However Barker would transfer into a contest management place.
“I used to be on the fence with making a change as a result of I used to be so snug with Bootie,” Wallace mentioned earlier this season. “It’s arduous to step away from one thing that you just’re snug with and one thing that appears to be working pretty effectively. However I form of simply took a step again and put all of the belief and religion within the group to make the required calls and the correct name.”
The day of the Conflict at Bowman Grey Stadium final month, Wallace texted Barker: “Hey man, I do know it’s a change of tempo, however I wouldn’t be the place I’m at with out all the assistance and all of the steering that you just gave and I recognize you.”
However pairing Wallace with Denike, somebody Wallace had not labored with earlier than, offered challenges, particularly for a driver needing to be higher — instantly.
And to tug a crew chief from the Truck Collection was not a typical transfer in Cup. It has labored for two-time Daytona 500 winner William Byron, who has been with former Truck crew chief Rudy Fugle since 2021, however they labored collectively in 2016 within the Truck Collection.
Rogers wasn’t nervous the Wallace-Denike chemistry.
“You take a look at the construction of how we function at 23XI,” Rogers mentioned. “It’s not three unbiased race groups. It’s one race group that works collectively and that system affords us a studying curve (for a brand new crew chief). Plenty of the issues {that a} crew chief might should be taught within the Cup Collection, he’s received two different companions serving to him. So we predict we are able to shorten that studying curve for him.
“(Plus) simply his management, coming from the navy … I feel he’s going to be a unprecedented chief, and I feel that’s going to fulfill Bubba proper the place he’s at now. Bubba, I feel he’s going to learn from a robust chief.”
The outcomes present, he already has.
