During a NASCAR event, Bubba Wallace's No. 23 team encountered significant issues with a stuck lug nut on the left front tire, leading to multiple complications. Despite attempts to address the problem, including plans to cut the lug nut off during a stage break, Wallace fell 12 laps behind the leader and was scored in P36. The team's efforts to resolve the tire issue were detailed over team radio, with crew chief Bootie Barker providing updates and strategies. The situation was exacerbated by an earlier decision to use scuffed tires, which resulted in a right-rear tire being described as 'obliterated'. Wallace's performance was further hampered by handling issues, including a lack of right-front tire grip and a desire for adjustments to the car's 'lateral squish'. The team's struggles were compounded by a penalty for too many people over the wall during their attempts to fix the lug nut issue, leaving Wallace in 35th place before he rejoined the race 12 laps down.
Lug nut stuck on @BubbaWallace car. @PRNlive https://t.co/XDfU4YSET3
The 23 finally cut off the lug and got that repaired and functional but Wallace is now 12 laps down
Wallace team finally got him back on track 12 laps down after working on the lug nut. He will have to do a pass-through for too many people over the wall.
Wallace finally rejoins the field 12 laps down with fresh tires. #NASCAR
According to @NASCARONFOX the No. 23 crew of @BubbaWallace will have to cut the nut off the rear wheel at @LVMotorSpeedway #NASCAR
If the No. 23 team is able to take the wavearound under this caution to make up a lap, Barker will bring Wallace to pit road. They'll try three options to loosen the left-front lug nut that's stuck. If those don't work, they'll send the No. 23 back out & fix under stage caution.
Trouble on the left-front for the No. 23 team, which is now in 35th place and three laps off the pace after repeated attempts to change the tire. #NASCAR https://t.co/ka85i26ZhP
Team tells Bubba Wallace they're going to have to cut the lug nut off during the stage break. https://t.co/xdc6Yu7Kfg
Bootie Barker tells Bubba Wallace they're going to have to cut that lug nut off on the next stop so to just take care of the car and get it to the stage, no reason to push
The 23 team had an issue on pit road with removing the lugnut from the left front tire during the last green flag stop.
Barker says they will pit and cut the lug nut off during the stage caution. https://t.co/31AGcsJUHJ
Bootie Barker tells Bubba Wallace, "When we get to the caution, we'll probably have to cut that lug nut off."
Lugnut issue -- they can't get one of them off -- for Bubba Wallace. He is told at the stage break, they will have to cut that lug nut off.
Bubba Wallace had a stuck lug nut during his green flag stop. Now, he is p35 at least three laps down. #NASCAR
Bad round of stops for the No. 23 of @BubbaWallace, who is now multiple laps down in 36th. He had some issues with getting a tire off and had to come back for another stop. Had been struggling wit handling up until that point. @RossChastain currently the free pass tho. #NASCAR
Sounds like the lug nut is stuck on the No. 23 Toyota's left front. That tire remains unchanged. Wallace is scored four laps down in P36. #NASCAR https://t.co/gbczBMW6Z8
Continuing to listen to the No. 23 radio. Wallace still says he's got no right-front tire, meaning it's still very tight and pushing on corner exit. Also tells the team he needs the "lateral squish" he feels in the car's rotation to be adjusted out of it. #NASCAR
Barker informs Wallace his right-rear tire was "obliterated" on that run, not to the fault of Wallace but because the team used scuffed tires for the previous run. "You should have a totally different car" to begin Stage 2, Wallace is told. #NASCAR
On the No. 23 team radio, Bootie Barker asks Bubba Wallace to "save hard" here. Team took four tires and made an adjustment after Wallace noted his right-front tire felt "dead" early in the run. Barker says they're within three laps of making it the whole stage. #NASCAR