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DARLINGTON, SC – SEPTEMBER 04: Bubba Wallace (#45 23XI Racing ROOT Insurance Toyota) looks on before the running of NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 on September 04, 2022, at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, SC.(Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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DARLINGTON, SC – SEPTEMBER 04: Bubba Wallace (#45 23XI Racing ROOT Insurance Toyota) looks on before the running of NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 on September 04, 2022, at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, SC.(Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
.Back in 2019, at the Pocono Raceway, Bubba Wallace apparently gave fellow competitor Daniel Suarez the finger near the end of the race. However, later on, Wallace cleared the air between what had transpired and maintained that he did not mean ill against the Mexican-born driver.
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During an interview, later on, Wallace said, “Ain’t nothing wrong with that. I was telling him he was number one — that’s good.”
Later on, Suarez took to social media to state what happened and what did they argue about. In a comment, he stated, “We are still amigos, we raced hard coming to the white flag then he gave me the … where I came from you kick somebody’s (peach emoji) for that, just told him don’t show me that finger again.”
Suarez might have found Wallace’s humor to be a little inappropriate from a cultural difference point of view. The duo even had an argument after the race at Pocono, where the two were visibly talking their issues out. Wallace was mostly smiling throughout and it seemed like the pair resolved their issues without further conflict.
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Bubba Wallace reveals he gives the finger to anyone he likes
Wallace wasn’t apologetic about his gesture. Instead, he said how he finds it to be funny and not the other way around. He mentioned how he would be comfortable to be giving the finger to the drivers he liked personally. He also mentioned that Suarez wasn’t the first to receive the gesture. And he does it to lighten the mood in the cut-throat nature of the competition.

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MARTINSVILLE, VA – OCTOBER 29: Bubba Wallace (#45 23XI Racing Leidos Toyota) being interviewed during media availability for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Xfinity 500 on October 29, 2022, at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, VA. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Wallace further mentioned, “I do it to guys I like and I can race around. Hell, if Kyle Busch or Martin Truex Jr are coming up to lap us, I’ll give them the finger. It’s funny. We’ll talk about it and laugh at it after.”
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Watch This Story: Bubba Wallace Loses $1 Million For Assaulting Kyle Larson as Michael Jordan’s Partner Condemns His “Values”
It sure, maybe just a casual thing Wallace does among his friends. However, since NASCAR is something that is broadcasted to a wide audience, such gestures can usually lead to controversy and confusion among the fans. The conflict between Suarez finally reached a resolution and the pair continue to be friends to this day.
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