NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace is suspended by NASCAR following actions at Las Vegas Motor Speedway against Kyle Larson
On Sunday, Las Vegas Motor Speedway hosted the NASCAR Cup Series. The playoff race featured drama early between Bubba Wallace and Kyle Larson.
View the 23XI Racing statement on Bubba Wallace’s NASCAR suspension below.
Kyle Larson and Bubba Wallace were in a battle for 5th. Larson ran wide off turn four with Wallace on his outside.
As he ran wide, he crowded Wallace. No contact was made but Larson gave Wallace little choice but to run into the wall, or lift. Neither driver lifted and Wallace bounced off the outside wall.
Video: Bubba Wallace vs Kyle Larson at Las Vegas
After bouncing off the wall, Wallace went into retaliation mode. He turned left, aimed for the right rear of Larson and stayed in the throttle until making contact.
Larson was hooked across the frontstretch. At a high rate of speed, the No. 5 slammed the outside wall with the driver’s side door. Wallace also spun into the outside wall.
The dangerous situation comes at a horrible time as there’s safety issues with the new Next Gen car. The sport already has a plan to address the safety issues but those changes won’t be put into place until the 2023 season.
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Bubba Wallace pushes Kyle Larson after NASCAR crash
Both cars were destroyed after the retaliation. Wallace climbed from his car and began walking down the banking, with his helmet in hand. He walked toward Larson’s mangled machine and got there soon after Larson climbed out.
Wallace approached the driver with his hands in the air. Larson then pointed back, clearly saying his wasn’t the only driver at fault.
At that moment, Wallace dropped his helmet in the grass and lunged toward Larson. He shoved him into the damaged left rear of the No. 5 car. Larson attempted to walk away as Wallace gave several more shoves.
Initially, Wallace attempted to say he didn’t retaliate. He said the steering was broken after the first contact with the wall. However, the driver issued an apology on Monday and he backed off from that story.
On Tuesday, NASCAR released their weekly penalty report. Wallace is suspended for this weekend’s race at Homestead-Miami Speedway for retaliation.
Bubba Wallace says his steering broke before contact with Kyle Larson at Las Vegas
Bubba Wallace suspended by NASCAR after wrecking Kyle Larson
23XI Racing issues statement on the suspension to Bubba Wallace
Wallace drives for 23XI Racing. After teammate Kurt Busch was injured a few months ago, Wallace was moved from the 23 to the No. 45 in an attempt to run for an owner’s championship.
And ahead of the race at Las Vegas, Kurt Busch announced a partial retirement from the sport.
Kurt Busch retiring from full-time NASCAR racing after concussion
“23XI is aligned with NASCAR on the one-race suspension issued to Bubba and we understand the need for the series to take a clear stand on the incidents that took place at Las Vegas Motor Speedway,” 23XI Racing opened in a statement.
“Bubba’s actions are not in keeping with the values of our team and partners. We have spoken to Bubba and expressed our disapproval of how he handled the situation.”
“Bubba has made impressive strides this season and this experience is an opportunity for him to further learn and grow as a competitor in NASCAR.”
“As a result of the penalty, John Hunter Nemechek will drive the No. 45 Toyota this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.”
23XI Racing is one of the newest teams in the sport. The North Carolina team is owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan.
Hamlin was recently a victim of on-track retaliation from William Byron. In that case, Byron was fined $100,000.
William Byron vs Denny Hamlin (Video)
Links
Kyle Larson | Bubba Wallace | Las Vegas Motor Speedway | NASCAR
