Man, Bubba Wallace just can’t catch a break in 2023.
The 23XI driver has suffered from pit crew issues, to self inflicted wounds like wrecking on the 11th lap at the Circuit of the Americas, and most recently, he suffered a flat tire and hit the wall which killed his chances of winning at the Hollywood Casino 400 yesterday.
He was running in second place the time, 29 laps into Stage 2:
PROBLEMS! Here is the incident for Bubba Wallace, where a flat right rear tire sent him into the wall and broke the toe link on his car: pic.twitter.com/7pDG3hbB5W
— Toby Christie (@Toby_Christie) September 10, 2023
Of course, he is in the midst of his first career playoff run, probably running the best he ever has, but now sitting at 14th in the playoff standings, he’s probably gonna need a win at Darlington next week to advance to the Round of 12.
Bubba is also taking some heat on social media after calling his 23XI teammate, Tyler Reddick, a “little mental case.”
Reddick got the victory this past weekend, and Wallace took the chance to throw some shade at his teammate. Of course, he was 100% joking, and was just taking the opportunity to talk some good ol’ meaningless sh*t to his buddy.
Wallace said:
“Congrats to Tyler, I’m pumped for him for sure… I was running him down, and he got a little sketched out that I was trying to help him… He’s a little mental case sometimes but hey it all worked out.”
He was seen congratulating his Tyler a number of times yesterday:
.@BubbaWallace congratulates the 45 @MoneyLion team🎉 #ForwardTogether pic.twitter.com/QoVLT6w9v0
— 23XI Racing (@23XIRacing) September 10, 2023
It was completely out of jest, but if there’s anything we’ve come to learn over the past couple of years, it’s that X (formerly Twitter) is filled with people that have a tendency to love to tear people down whenever they get the chance, and that’s what we’re seeing with Wallace’s comments now.
Wallace has been a proponent of mental health during his career, so naturally, people found a reason to take offense to the comment:
Bubba Wallace calling another driver a mental case is the embodiment of the pot calling the kettle black.
Also, if Busch got fined for saying "retarded"… how is "mental case" any different? #NASCAR #HollywoodCasino400
— Jett White (@JettWhite07) September 10, 2023
Bubba wallace out there again blaming anyone but himself “the 45 can be a bit of a mental case” loooool 🥴 he is such a LOSER!! #nascar
— Linds (@LongArmOTheLaaw) September 10, 2023
.@BubbaWallace calls Reddick a mental case? My brother in Christ you are the one who's openly struggled with depression 😭
— bobby johnson (@JimboRacingYT) September 10, 2023
Wow! @BubbaWallace calling @TylerReddick45 a mental case. The things that he says are just inappropriate. @NASCARonNBC @NASCAR #HollywoodCasino400 #StopEncouragingHisBehavior
— Randi Jarrell (@OverIt1203) September 10, 2023
@NASCAR you have suspended @NoahGragson for liking a meme, what are you going to do with @BubbaWallace for calling another driver a mental case? Mental health is a very serious issue and not something to make fun of a person about. Don’t let this go because it’s Bubba!
— Lisa Guess (@lisa_guess) September 11, 2023
@BubbaWallace mental case,nice comment ,Hope no one in your family suffers from mental illness.
— Rick Wright (@2gorsty2) September 10, 2023
Calling another driver a mental case?? Just bc you have had problems doesn’t give you any reason to accuse others! One step forward three steps back again!!
— Skip 28 (@skip_28) September 11, 2023
So tough on BW he calls his teammate a Mental Case on live TV someone needs to hit the mute button. So disrespectful smh. So NOT funny
— Kendra (@kendraTYC) September 11, 2023
And a mental patient or a head case. Whatever else he said about him. I know Bubba thinks he was being cute but if any of that was said about him he would be the first one crying.
— heather (@djheatherww) September 11, 2023
Wallace finally had enough of it and responded to all of the criticism:
“Dawh Bubba can’t pick on his friends in interviews.”
Dawh bubba can’t pick on his friends in interviews. 😫😭 pic.twitter.com/9rLVNWfr43
— Bubba Wallace (@BubbaWallace) September 11, 2023
