Freddie Kraft criticizes lack of garage access at joint NASCAR-IndyCar Phoenix event

The spotter for Bubba Wallace says the two series kept their garages off-limits to each other's personnel.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Freddie Kraft, the spotter for NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace, criticized the lack of access between the NASCAR and IndyCar garages during their joint race weekend at Phoenix Raceway. Kraft said the two series kept their garages completely off-limits to each other's personnel, preventing them from "intermingling" and enjoying the full benefits of the crossover event.

Why it matters

The joint NASCAR-IndyCar weekend at Phoenix was intended to create more crossover interest and engagement between the two racing series. However, Kraft's comments suggest the event organizers may have fallen short in fostering that collaborative spirit by keeping the garages strictly separated.

The details

Kraft said on the Door Bumper Clear podcast that neither NASCAR nor IndyCar personnel were allowed to enter the other series' garage areas. He felt this went against the spirit of the joint weekend, where the two series should have been "inviting them into our garage" and allowing free movement between the two. Kraft also noted that even with a NASCAR credential, he was not allowed to walk on the IndyCar pit road during their race.

  • The joint NASCAR-IndyCar weekend took place at Phoenix Raceway on March 10-12, 2026.

The players

Freddie Kraft

The spotter for NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace who criticized the lack of garage access between the NASCAR and IndyCar teams during their joint Phoenix event.

Bubba Wallace

The NASCAR driver for whom Freddie Kraft serves as a spotter.

Ryan Blaney

The NASCAR Cup Series driver who won the main event at the joint Phoenix weekend.

Josef Newgarden

The IndyCar driver who won the race on the Saturday of the joint Phoenix weekend.

Justin Allgaier

The NASCAR Xfinity Series driver who won the race on the Saturday of the joint Phoenix weekend.

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What they’re saying

“You're not even allowed to go in their garage, or they're not allowed to come in our garage. It was like Fort Knox. Don't dare go in either.”

— Freddie Kraft, Spotter for Bubba Wallace (Door Bumper Clear podcast)

“I loved when we had the doubleheader with them at Indy, just kind of being right there and going over and hanging out and watching practice in their box and stuff like that. It was cool, and I think it's going to be fantastic. And I like that IndyCar's going back to Phoenix. It's been a while since they've run in Phoenix, and I think it'll put on a really good show.”

— Ryan Blaney (NASCAR.com)

What’s next

The organizers of the joint NASCAR-IndyCar weekend at Phoenix will likely review feedback from participants like Freddie Kraft to determine if changes are needed to improve the collaborative spirit and cross-pollination between the two series for future events.

The takeaway

While the joint NASCAR-IndyCar weekend at Phoenix was an exciting opportunity to showcase both series, Kraft's criticism suggests the event organizers may have fallen short in fully integrating the two paddocks and allowing free movement and interaction between the teams and personnel. Future joint events will need to strike a better balance between maintaining series-specific operations and fostering a true collaborative environment.