In an unfortunate series of events, 2015 and 2019 Cup Series champion Kyle Busch could not qualify for the Round of 12. Due to an engine failure, Busch had to let go of his momentum, finishing at the 34th position. However, Busch wasn’t the only driver who faced technical issues with his vehicle.
In one of the episodes of Dale Jr Download, Dale Earnhardt Jr shared an interesting observation about Bubba Wallace and Joey Logano at Bristol. Like Busch, Ty Gibbs and Wallace’s Toyota faced some glitches. After experiencing some steering wheel issues, Wallace got back on track to race. And similarly, Gibbs also came back from the pit road.
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However, since Gibbs and Wallace decided to return, Kyle Busch could not accumulate 2 extra points for qualifying for the next round. And former NASCAR driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr also felt the same.
Further, he shared his thoughts on the incident. He said; “As they?re making laps, we?re all sitting there in the booth going, “Are they really going to make laps and pass him?”This is another Toyota.”
Surprised by Bubba Wallace and Ty Gibbs not thinking about Busch, Earnhardt Jr explained that he is aware that Bubba Wallace needs the point for his team. However, he still felt that helping Kyle Busch by collecting points for the Ownership Championship would have been worth more.
While talking about how Ty Gibbs followed suit after Wallace, Earnhardt said; “The Ty Gibbs car conveniently pulled off the race track four laps short of passing him.?
READ MORE: ?No Chance? ? Bubba Wallace?s Spotter Reveals the ?Only Two Options? for Kyle Busch?s NASCAR Team
On the other hand, Dale explained how Team Penske’s Joey Logano helped his teammate Austin Cindric. Logano, who has already qualified for the next round, looked out for Cindric. Earnhardt explained how Logano helped Cindric gain a point by moving his #22 to pit road. He added;
?We were in commercial, I believe, under caution and he gave two laps up to Cindric under that caution. We?re sitting there going, well, that was convenient.?
Busch was just short of two points to qualify for the race. So, if Cindric did not get that point, Busch probably would have qualified for the next round at Bristol.
Steve Letarte criticized Bubba Wallace for not helping Kyle Busch
It is interesting to note that Dale Earnhardt Jr is not the only one who feels that Bubba Wallace could have helped Kyle Busch. In a recent episode of NASCAR Inside Race, Steve Letarte shared his opinion and observations about the incident.
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Letarte made it clear that he knew 23XI is not Joe Gibbs Racing. However, he thinks that as a team sponsored by Toyota, Wallace could have displayed team spirit.
Saying he has never been a fan of team orders, he said; “I like to see race car drivers race for wins. But I thought that was a very easy point that 23XI could have gifted the #18 of Kyle Busch by just not going through all this work.?
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Further, Letarte suggested that Bubba Wallace could have taken it slow and helped his fellow Toyota driver out. He also acknowledged that it was important for Wallace and 23XI Racing to accumulate points for the Ownership Championship. But said that one decision could have changed the results.