NASCAR insider details money implications after Bubba Wallace, 23XI win Brickyard 400 as open team

Bubba Wallace and his 23XI Racing team were the winners of Sunday’s Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The win came in their second start racing as an open team after a U.S. District Court judge declined 23XI and Front Row Motorsports’ request for a temporary restraining order to compete as chartered teams for the duration of their antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR.

Racing as an open team comes with its drawbacks. While Wallace and his team will receive the same amount of money for winning, they don’t get the pre-race payout that a chartered team gets, plus the “historical payout for the last two years of the charter,” according to Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports.

“Typically, that is about 20-30% of what a team normally would get but probably little more with win,” Pockrass wrote on X.

23XI and FRM each have three full-time Cup Series teams. That means all six are currently racing as open teams. Since becoming open teams, 23XI co-owner Denny Hamlin has won at Dover Motor Speedway, and now Wallace has a win under his belt in the Brickyard 400.

Bubba Wallace blocks out outside noise, wins Brickyard 400

Wallace had to earn this one. He assumed the lead after Ryan Blaney came down pit road on Lap 143 and had a near six-second lead over Kyle Larson. The Hendrick Motorsports driver was closing the gap, though Wallace was on pace to hold on for the win.

But then, rain arrived at the racetrack. NASCAR issued the red flag with less than five laps to go in the race. Now, Wallace would have to hold off Larson, Hamlin, William Byron and others in overtime. Wallace was close to running out of fuel, saving as much as he could during pace laps. He cleared Larson off the restart before a wreck in the back of the pack brought out another caution.

Wallace’s team made the call to stay out and go for the win in the second overtime. The decision paid off — Wallace cleared Larson again and raced his way to the checkered flag.

“To overcome so much and to put these people in Victory Lane — that’s what it’s about,” Wallace said after the race. “It’s about these people that continue to push and believe in me. Man, just so proud. I appreciate all you guys. Thank you.”