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NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Toyota Owners 400 Apr 2, 2023 Richmond, Virginia, USA Bubba Wallace waves to fans before the race during the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway. Richmond Richmond Raceway Virginia USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJohnxDavidxMercerx 20230402_tdc_sx1_0011
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NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Toyota Owners 400 Apr 2, 2023 Richmond, Virginia, USA Bubba Wallace waves to fans before the race during the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway. Richmond Richmond Raceway Virginia USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJohnxDavidxMercerx 20230402_tdc_sx1_0011
In the high-stakes world of professional racing, drivers face relentless criticism and intense rivalries. They must demonstrate physical prowess and mental fortitude while navigating both the racetrack and the intricate web of relationships and rivalries that shape their careers. The pressure to prove oneself intensifies when confronted by the person who called you out, standing right before your eyes.
Recently, Bubba Wallace experienced such a moment at the Bristol Dirt race. Prior to the event, he found himself face-to-face with a seasoned NASCAR veteran who had previously criticized his performance this season. Despite the tension, the veteran explained the unexpected encounter between him and Bubba, shedding light on the complexities that exist within the world of professional racing.
What did the veteran say about the awkward confrontation with Bubba Wallace?
NASCAR veteran Kenny Wallace said, “So good back-to-back runs for Bubba. He’s been controversial. You know I hated it. I stared Bubba right in the face when I introduced him at Bristol.
“He just smiled at me. We fist bumped. He knows I called him out. But when I call people out, I call ’em out with love.”
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USA Today via Reuters
Aug 7, 2022; Brooklyn, Michigan, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace (23) during the race at Michigan International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
“So yes, I’m able to go into the garage area and still talk to these drivers,” he concluded.
Kenny Wallace had asked Bubba to “replace his brain”
After last month’s race at Circuit of the Americas, Bubba experienced a meltdown when he was wrecked out. Speaking to the press, he admitted to making rookie mistakes, despite being in the Cup for six years, and suggested he needed to be replaced. Kenny Wallace, however, was not willing to accept Bubba’s self-depreciation and promptly responded.
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Kenny argued that Bubba drove for some of the most prominent athletes in sports, given that 23XI Racing is owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin. He believed that expressing such weakness was inappropriate. The veteran even proposed that Bubba should be provided with a life coach.
Towards the end of his response, Kenny clarified, “So who needs to replace Bubba? Nobody. But he needs to replace his brain right now because he’s thinking wrong.”
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It was clear that Kenny valued Bubba’s presence in the sport, yet he was disappointed to see him mentally crumble. Fortunately, the two shared smiles at Bristol later on. As Kenny himself explained, when he calls out people, he does it with love.
