If you’re a NASCAR fan, there’s a good chance that you saw the insanity that broke out on lap 94 of the NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
In an effort to make a push, Kyle Larson rode hard into the turn, passing Kevin Harvick, but started creeping up the track and sent Bubba Wallace straight into the wall, who was passing on the outside.
Wallace, who was visibly upset, retaliated and hooked Larson at a high rate of speed, ending both of their days, along with Christopher Bell, a playoff driver who just got caught in the madness.
Bubba then made a beeline straight for Larson who was exiting his own car, and began to shove him, but Larson decided not to fight back.
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
It was a SCENE.
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
Wallace, who has had an incredibly frustrating 2022, considering issues with both his car and his pit crew, told reporters after the race:
“When you get shoved into the fence, deliberately like he did, trying to force me to lift, steering is gone… Larson wanted to make a three-wide divebomb, never cleared me.
And I don’t lift, so I know I’m kinda new to running up front, but I don’t lift…. just a piss poor move on his execution.”
And when the reporters asked him about the dangers of retaliating in such a way, he responded:
“Stop fishing, stop fishing…”
"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
There has yet to be any disciplinary actions taken by NASCAR over the retaliation, but needless to say, fans are not happy with Wallace, and many are calling for his suspension.
With the amount of concussion issues we’ve seen this year, including what may be a career ending injury for Kurt Busch, it’s clear these Next Gen cars are not as safe as they should be.
So is intentionally causing a wreck at such a high rate of speed suspension-worthy?
Of course Bubba has probably the largest group of haters in NASCAR and they couldn’t wait to get on the Tweeter and scream for a permanent ban, but this seemed to be more than just your usual Bubba haters calling for a suspension:
Christopher Bell is done for the day.
A massive blow for Bell’s playoffs after Bubba Wallace’s suspension-worthy move.
— Austin Konenski (@AustinKonenski) October 16, 2022
Dangerous as could possibly be. Totally intentional.
Bubba Wallace should be suspended for the rest of the season, but @NASCAR won't do a thing.
— Drew Pellman (@Drew_Pellman) October 16, 2022
Bubba Wallace needs to be suspended for at least Homestead-Miami. Lost all respect I had for him after that, whether I’m a Larson fan or not. You don’t hook someone on purpose in an unsafe race car going 170mph and then fight the other driver. Interview didn’t help either #NASCAR
— RG 1️⃣ (@AstroDog25) October 16, 2022
Bubba Wallace wrecked a dude deliberately back onto the racing surface and took out a playoff driver and then exited his car, walked away from the AMR safety team, across the racing surface under caution, and physically assaulted another driver. That’s a suspension.
— Zax (@ZaxCal) October 16, 2022
#NASCAR Bubba Wallace can go fuck himself. Talentless crybaby bitch. Intentionally causes a wreck and acts like it was Larson's fault. Would love to see him get nailed with a huge fine and suspension. No respect for people with that kind of behavior. Good on Larson–
— Elite421Trooper (@Elite421Trooper) October 16, 2022
I have lost my respect for Bubba Wallace. If he doesn’t get suspended I will be furious. He wrecks Kyle Larson on purpose down the straight away
— Jeremy Alberti (@LightningPodcas) October 16, 2022
Bubba Wallace needs a suspension. He thinks he can do anything, without consequences. #NASCAR
— Jack Watson™ ⛱😎 (@topper_fan) October 16, 2022
Hey @NASCAR, you penalized a driver(Custer) for helping his teammate. Bubba Wallace deserves the same $100,000 fine and an indefinite suspension.
Custer put no one in danger, never destroyed anyone’s car and never tried to make you look bad. What Wallace did was disgusting.— 🇺🇸 IndividualPatriot🇺🇸 (@JP_shirley) October 17, 2022
I see a hefty fine/possible suspension coming for Bubba Wallace. That was uncalled for.
— Shane Holinde (@Main_Event_Wx) October 16, 2022
"Rubbing is racing" but Bubba Wallace intentionally did a pit maneuver on Larson. He needs to apologize and then serve his very long suspension.
— John Placette (@john_placette) October 17, 2022
Even self-proclaimed Bubba fans were saying he crossed the line:
I usually don’t trash Bubba Wallace @BubbaWallace but he should be suspended for the season for that. Not classy. Especially In these cars that aren’t safe to take hits like that! Right? @dennyhamlin ?
— Nicholas Fraulino (@NFraulino) October 16, 2022
I love Bubba Wallace, but I just saw what he did. He deserves to be suspended for the rest of the season and mandated anger management. That’s unacceptable.
— Ethan G (@efgregs) October 16, 2022
I'll say this to kill it. I've been a big Bubba Wallace supporter. I will defend any time I see someone talking shit about him. But if he doesn't get a suspension for what he did it's wrong. What he did was way too much. He coulda easily saved that car and kept racing.
— Kellie Leigh Blundell (@LeighTheBee48) October 17, 2022
NASCAR reporter Bob Pockrass called for a points deduction and fine, but said the behavior probably wouldn’t warrant a suspension, especially if Bubba did lose steering.
Fast Thoughts: Should Bubba Wallace be penalized for hooking and shoving Kyle Larson? pic.twitter.com/aP15IbT6tw
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 17, 2022
