USA Today via Reuters
Oct 16, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace (45) before the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Oct 16, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace (45) before the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Isn’t it so uncertain, life, full of surprises, always taking us by our feet, for better or worse? You think a certain thing would happen a certain way, and then it doesn’t. A NASCAR equivalent of this would be the current lineup of 23XI Racing after the suspension of Bubba Wallace.
The team started the year with Wallace and Kurt Busch, but we know the unfortunate circumstances with the veteran, leading to Ty Gibbs replacing him. Then, Wallace was asked to swap rides with Gibbs, driving the #45 as Gibbs stepped in the #23.
As things stand now after the #45’s act of retaliation in Vegas leading to a one-race suspension, 23XI Racing had to replace Wallace with John Hunter Nemechek.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
All of this brings us to the present, where the team now has a lineup of Ty Gibbs in the #23 and John Hunter Nemechek in the #45. Curiously, though, despite the suspension being for only a single race, the #45 car had the name of the substitute driver all over it.
“Unlike the way teams often leave a driver’s name above the door when the driver is injured, the 45 Cup car has Nemechek’s name over the doors and on the front windshield and back windshield as Nemechek replaces the suspended Wallace this weekend at Homestead,” journalist Bob Pockrass reported.
Unlike the way teams often leave a driver’s name above the door when the driver is injured, the 45 Cup car has Nemechek’s name over the doors and on the front windshield and back windshield as Nemechek replaces the suspended Wallace this weekend at Homestead. pic.twitter.com/andoqR4RxK
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 21, 2022
This invited a lot of backlash and negative criticism from the fans against Bubba Wallace, some of whom suggested that this was an act of sending out a statement so that the suspended driver can get his head straight.
The only reason Bubba is in Cup is because he has sponsorship. He's the male version of Danica Patrick. 🤣
— Larry Spiegel Jr. 🍺🍺🍺 (@larryspiegel1) October 21, 2022
I respect what the team is doing here. They’re telling Bubba that he’ll still be on the team while also sending a message that keep it up and he can be replaced. It’s a glaring reminder that for this weekend it isn’t his car and they can run without him.
— Jeremy Murray (@JMurrayMO81) October 21, 2022
Seems as if Denny Hamlin is teaching a big lesson to Bubba, especially when it comes to safety. Seeing another driver's name on his car is probably a HUGE humbling experience for Bubba.
— HendrickFan9 (@chaoticgod95) October 21, 2022
Keep it that way; send Bubba on a permanent vacation before they lose all their sponsors.
— Pop Fisher® (y85) (@PopFisher1) October 21, 2022
That’s going to get under Bubba’s skin, I’ll bet. It’s bad enough watching your car go around the track, but without your name on it as well? 😖
— Kellen (@KellenCaruso) October 21, 2022
Wallace should be suspended the remaining season and be forced into Anger Management. But NASCAR doesn’t have any balls left.
— CJ (@DanielMortilla2) October 21, 2022
Maybe this adding insult to injury will give Bubba the kick he needs to get his head on straight
— Christopher Fisher (@kulwickifan) October 21, 2022
NASCAR couldn’t let the dangerous act of Bubba Wallace go unpunished
Soon after announcing the one-race suspension penalty for Bubba Wallace, NASCAR’s Steve O’Donnell explained their thought process in getting to that decision despite there being other alternatives.
Watch This Story: $25 Million Man KSI Sets F1 Titan Lewis Hamilton As His Benchmark of Success In Search Of GOAT Status
“Our actions are really specific to what took place on the racetrack,” NASCAR Chief Operating Officer said. “And when we look at how that incident occurred, in our minds, really a dangerous act.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
O’Donnell described the incident as being an intentional act that put the other cars at risk as well.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
“As we look at the sport and where we are today and where we want to draw that line going forward, we thought that definitely crossed the line and that’s what we focused on in terms of making this call,” he added.
