One NASCAR driver, Bubba Wallace, exploded into a massive outrage during a race that took place this past Sunday as he rushed out to attack another driver after being the one to cause a wreck with the other driver during the race.
The fiasco took place as part of Stage 2 of the South Point 400 held at Las Vegas Motor Speedway when Wallace, who took the win for Stage 1, was near another driver, Kyle Larson, when Larson tried to execute a three-wide pass.
Larson slid up the track and his car issued a light tap against Wallace’s car, sparking a cascade of effects leading to Wallace’s car tapping the wall. After tapping the wall, Wallace’s car ricocheted back into Larson’s car and then continued to slide down by tracking Larson’s car down the track and smashing into the back of his car, sparking a spin out for both cars.
A series of reports stated that the move from Wallace to try and spin out Larson’s car appeared to be entirely intentional. NASCAR could slam multiple penalties against Wallace if they think his actions in the event were at all deliberate.
Kyle Larson hits Bubba Wallace.
Wallace spins him out, and #NASCARPlayoffs driver Christopher Bell is involved! pic.twitter.com/TlxcEV5T6q
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 16, 2022
Once both of the vehicles finally slid to a stop, Wallace, who has been previously labeled as being smug and self-righteous, rushed out of his car and physically attacked Larson, who is much smaller than Wallace.
Larson tried to move away from Wallace, but the actual physical onslaught only stopped only ended once NASCAR officials stepped in to stop it.
Well here’s our angle of it – forgive my terrible iPhone video 😅 pic.twitter.com/LTXSwozkpf
— Saskia (@Sasskatt) October 16, 2022
Bubba Wallace is NOT HAPPY with Kyle Larson.
Some pushes and shoves after they wreck. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/aaAn0idrJp
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 16, 2022
Larson issued a response to the incident by claiming that this show of aggression from Wallace was not at all surprising.
“I obviously made an aggressive move into three and got in low and got loose and chased it up a bit,” stated Larson. “And yeah, I mean, he got to my right front, and I got him tight into the wall and knew he was gonna retaliate. So, like I said, I mean, he had a reason to be mad, but his race wasn’t over until he retaliated. So it is what it is. Just, yeah, just aggression turned into frustration and he retaliated.”
When questioned on camera if it was in any way appropriate for Wallace to try and retaliate at such speeds, and unsurprisingly Larson stated no as he highlighted the plethora of injuries that could occur.
“I think with everything that’s been going on here lately with head injuries and all that, fractured ligaments and all that I don’t think it’s probably the right thing to do,” stated Larson.
Larson did not show any anger at all throughout the interview and seemed to have a much lighter response to the ordeal, claiming that most of the race drivers have lost their cool and retaliated in races.
'@KyleLarsonRacin addressed Bubba Wallace's move and if he thinks it was retaliation. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/sDVDXJTDxU
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 16, 2022
On the other hand, when Wallace was interviewed by the same person, he took absolutely zero responsibility for his actions and seemed quite angry with the interviewer.
The person conducting the interview highlighted a comment from one of the top NASCAR crew chiefs, Cliff Daniels, who claimed that the actions from Wallace were just textbook retaliation and then questioned Wallace about if he thought it was retaliation.
“Cliff is smart enough to know that how easy these cars break so when you get shoved into the fence, like deliberately like he did, trying to force me to lift, steering was gone,” Exclaimed Wallace and then smirked, “he just so happened to be there.”
Wallace exclaimed arrogantly, “It was just a piss poor move on his execution.”
“When situations like this happen, Bubba, at this speed, is retaliation an acceptable thing?” questioned on interviewer.
“Stop fishing,” shouted Wallace. “Stop fishing.”
“I’m not fishing. I’m just asking you,” claimed the interviewer. “Let’s also talk about the message you wanted to send to Kyle by going up to him after the incident.”
“He knows,” expressed Wallace. “He knows that what he did was wrong. He wanted to question what I was doing. He never cleared me so just hate it for our team, our McDonald’s Toyota Camry was super solid.”
"I don't lift."
Hear from @BubbaWallace after his incident with Kyle Larson. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/XUMPs2sRsf
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 16, 2022