Controversial Talladega Winner Bubba Wallace Seemingly Warns Joe Gibbs’s Grandson as 2 Rookies Take On NASCAR’s Fastest Track This Sunday

NASCAR Cup Series hosts some of the most challenging races in the motorsports world, and rookies often have a hard time making an impact in their debut season. One such race is the GEICO 500 at the Talladega Superspeedway, and two rookies, Ty Gibbs and Noah Gragson, are set to race for the first time at the Dega as full-time Cup Series drivers.

Going into one of the fastest tracks on the circuit, Ty Gibbs, the 20-year-old grandson of Joe Gibbs, will be at the front of the pack as he has qualified 3rd for the race. However, it will not be easy for him, as is evident from the word of warning issued to the younger drivers by Gibbs’s former teammate at 23XI Racing, Bubba Wallace.

Bubba Wallace has a few words for the rookies

Wallace, who won the rain-shortened race at Talladega in 2021, knows all too well how difficult it can be for rookies to earn the respect of their fellow NASCAR drivers. In an interview with For The Win, Wallace spoke about the challenges of racing at Talladega and the importance of earning respect.

Wallace stated, “The biggest thing is it starts with respect. So it’s hard for the rookies that come in to have the respect of the guys that have been around for a while just because we know how this race is gonna play out and we know one wrong move can take you out of it.

“For many superspeedway races just starting out in my Cup career, I was getting left hanging high and dry. And I thought I was making every right move, but apparently, I wasn’t.”

Wallace’s words of advice to Ty Gibbs and others highlight the importance of respect in NASCAR. Gibbs may have the pedigree and the talent, but he still needs to earn the respect of his fellow drivers if he wants to succeed in the Cup Series.

Wallace had more to add on the subject of how to gain the respect of established drivers.

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Bubba Wallace’s simple solution to gain respect may not be that simple after all

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Continuing the discussion, Wallace talked about how necessary it is for young drivers to stay away from altercations and drive as cleanly as possible. And even if a win eludes the drivers, it is just as important to consistently finish at the front of the pack.

He added, “But throughout time, you start getting those finishes and consistently finishing those races inside the top 5, top 10.”

Explaining how this helps in getting respect, he said, “Then you see the respect level start to go up, and I think that’s probably the biggest thing. I’ve just been able to finish clean, have no damage or don’t cause any wrecks, and then your stock kind of rises after that.”

Going forward, both Gibbs and Gragson will try to continue on their upward trajectory. And even if they are unable to score wins, they must stay focused and try to churn out consistent performances. Gibbs, driving the #54 Toyota for JGR, and Gragson, driving the #42 Chevy for Legacy Motor Club, will do well if they take Wallace’s advice seriously and stay out of troubled waters.

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