Sports
Posted by Charlie Kirk Staff - 10.20.22

NASCAR Suspends Bubba Wallace After Altercation With Kyle Larson, Official

NASCAR Suspends Bubba Wallace After Altercation With Kyle Larson, Official

Sports
Posted by Charlie Kirk Staff - 10.20.22

It should be patently obvious by now that NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace has become toxic to the sport after several incidents involving him over the past couple of years.

First, you may recall, Wallace stirred up a hornet’s nest when he claimed — falsely, it turns out — that someone put a “noose” in the garage he was using at Talladega Superspeedway in 2020, which drew comparisons to the race hoax perpetrated by actor Jussie Smollett.

Next, Wallace appears to have an anger management issue, tossing water into the face of fellow driver Alex Bowman after a race:

“Dude’s a jerk,” one Twitter user offered.

It’s hard to argue with that after Wallace’s latest stunt: Attacking reigning champ Kyle Larson after Wallace intentionally spun him out, according to observers.

Wallace was suspended for one race after he crashed into Larson at Lap 94 of the South Point 400 and proceeded to shove Larson in the aftermath, both of which are violations of Sections 4.3.A and 4.4.C & E of the NASCAR Member Code of Conduct laid out in the NASCAR Rule Book.

Rule 4.4.C lists “intentionally wrecking or spinning another vehicle, whether or not that vehicle is removed from Competition as a result” as one of five member actions that could result in a penalty, reports noted.

Wallace issued an apology to fans after the incident, which also included pushing away a NASCAR official, but he did not issue a personal apology to Larson, at least, not yet.

“I want to apologize for my actions on Sunday following the on-track incident with Kyle Larson and the No. 5 car,” Wallace said before the suspension. “My behavior does not align with the core values that are shared by 23XI Racing and our partners, who have played a crucial role in my incredible journey to the top of this great sport.”

NASCAR also issued a statement:

The incident began at the exit of Turn 4 in the Cup Series’ Round of 8 opener in Nevada, where Larson slid high and forced Wallace into the wall.

Wallace, the victor of Stage 1, turned left into Larson’s right-rear quarter panel, sending the No. 5 Chevrolet spinning toward the outside wall and clipping Christopher Bell in the process.

Bell is still competing for a spot in the Championship 4 while Larson continues to chase an owners’ championship for Hendrick Motorsports. None of the three competitors were able to continue.

In addition to Wallace’s suspension, NASCAR announced four other penalties following the Las Vegas weekend.

Ben Beshore, crew chief of the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, will miss the next four races along with jackman Derrell Edwards and tire changer Michael Hicks after the left-front wheel detached from Busch’s car under caution at Las Vegas. The suspensions carry through the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum.

Wallace was heavily criticized for his attack.

“Wallace exhibits the same violent response behavior played out in urban streets everyday because he can’t control his aggression. Bad look,” former Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke Jr. wrote on Twitter.

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