NASCAR penalized Bubba Wallace after cutting the chicane on the Charlotte Roval
On Sunday, the Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway hosted the NASCAR Cup Series. It was a playoff elimination race, cutting the field from 12 playoff driver to just 8.
Watch the Bubba Wallace crash video below.
Bubba Wallace was fighting hard for a spot in the playoff battle. He finished 2nd in the opening stage and remained in the top 10 for the end of the seconds stage.
In stage three, things took a turn. On a restart with under 25 laps to go, Daniel Suarez got wheel hopped under braking.
As Suarez jumped sideways, he clipped Austin Cindric in the right rear. Cindric was then hooked into the left rear of Bubba Wallace.
Both Cindric and Wallace spun in the chicane. Cindric came to a complete stop. However, Wallace did a full 360, cut the chicane and kept going.
The rule is, if a driver cuts the chicane, you need to come to a complete stop. NASCAR handed Wallace a penalty, making him come to a stop on the front stretch chicane.
NASCAR doesn’t offer much of an exception to the rule. Even if a driver is sent spinning through the chicane, or punted into the corner, they still need to come to a stop if they cut the course.
NASCAR driver catches fire during Charlotte race (Video)
Bubba Wallace reacts to the penalty issued by NASCAR
“Honestly, it’s such a BS rule,” Bubba Wallace stated after the race.
“I lost so much track position. I didn’t completely come to a stop. But, I got blown through the chicane.”
“So, I thought I’d just keep my momentum up, get back going and fall back in line. You can go race race it out from there.”
“But, we had to stop on the front stretch.”
“We’re the only series I think that does that ass backwards. Not surprised.”
Bubba Wallace reflects on the incident
Wallace added, “What I analyze is, ‘What could I have done to not be in that situation?’ Could I have been faster or pass another car.”
“How to be better, to not put yourself [incomplete] when you’re racing around with squirrels. It is what it is, just didn’t have enough.”
“I guess that’s what 30 is. I’m not mad, I’m happy for the team. I’m pumped for our season, it’s not over with yet.”
Wallace was one of the four drivers eliminated from the playoffs after the Roval. Just four races remain in the 2023 schedule.
NASCAR point standings after the Charlotte Roval
