Calls grew on Sunday for hothead NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace to face severe penalties for a violent outburst toward another driver after Wallace caused the other driver to crash.
The incident happened during Stage 2 of the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway when Wallace, who won Stage 1, was next to driver Kyle Larson when Larson attempted a three-wide pass.
Larson moved up the track and his car gave a slight tap to Wallace’s car, causing Wallace’s car to brush up against the wall. After brushing up against the wall, Wallace bounced into Larson’s car and then continued by tracking Larson’s car down the track and slamming into the rear of his car, causing both cars to spin out.
Multiple reports said that the move by Wallace to spin out Larson’s car appeared to be intentional. NASCAR could penalize Wallace if they believe that his actions were deliberate.
Well here’s our angle of it – forgive my terrible iPhone video 😅 pic.twitter.com/LTXSwozkpf
— Saskia (@Sasskatt) October 16, 2022
“Is @BubbaWallace going to be arrested?” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton tweeted.
“This crap is why it’ll be hard for Bubba to have full respect from the fan base and probably other drivers,” NewsBusters Managing Editor Curtis Houck tweeted. “It was UNSAFE given how piss poor these cars are. If Larson or Bubba himself ends up diagnosed with a concussion this week and misses time, it’ll look even worse.”
“Bubba Wallace needs to be suspended for the retaliation in the vehicle against Larson. Full stop,” sports commentator Cassie Fambro tweeted. “These cars are way too dangerous for that. And then having time to walk and calm down and choosing violence? Nah. Unacceptable.”
Sports writer Jeff Gluck tweeted: “That appeared to be blatant, intentional payback from Bubba Wallace on Kyle Larson. Hooked him and it takes out a Toyota playoff driver in Christopher Bell as well. Not a good look.”
Motorsports reporter Jordan Bianchi tweeted: “The thing is it appears as if Bubba Wallace intentionally caused that crash, which also collected Toyota teammate Christopher Bell. This isn’t going to make Wallace any friends.”
Numerous other accounts highlighted Wallace’s hostility toward an interviewer after the race and how his actions are “dragging the entire sport of racing down.”
NASCAR has launched a review into the matter and can suspend Wallace if they believe that he intentionally slammed into Larson’s car.
Other responses online to Wallace’s violent attack that picked up significant engagement online included:
bubba wallace not only wrecked larson at high speed in a car with a questionable safety record, but he then proceeded to try and fight him
wonder how mcdonald's and his other sponsors feel right now
— carnation™️🗿 (@CarnationBoi) October 16, 2022
Should Bubba Wallace be suspended? #NASCARPlayoffs
— Darian Gilliam (@BlackFlagMatter) October 16, 2022
I would suspend Bubba Wallace for Homestead.
Wallace just hooked Kyle Larson across the front stretch. Absolutely unacceptable.
There is no debating this loss of maturity and temper.
— Austin Konenski (@AustinKonenski) October 16, 2022
Bubba Wallace is officially the biggest joke of nascar 🤡🤡🤡
— Mitchel Moles (@mitchelmoles01) October 16, 2022
Bubba Wallace showing everyone who he really is.
Has always had issues with temper, judgement.
🤡
— MTJ HUB (@MTJhub) October 16, 2022
What a clown.
That is why people hate Bubba Wallace. He gets overly emotional when things don’t go his way. Hanging a left on Kyle Larson, while done wrong, is the lowest of the low.#NASCAR
— NRF Productions (@NRF_Productions) October 16, 2022
NASCAR should ban Bubba Wallace for life and he should be prosecuted for the attempted murder and subsequent assault he committed today against Kyle Larson.
Will Wallace face any legal consequences or will his Democrat privilege prevail?
🤔
— Paul A. Szypula (@Bubblebathgirl) October 16, 2022