Racing Community Publicly Trashes Bubba Wallace as NASCAR’s Paris Olympics Gimmick Falls Flat on Its Face

We all know of NASCAR’s efforts to present an inclusive image. But who knew that it would backfire on them one day? On Friday, NASCAR uploaded a post on Instagram, celebrating Team USA for the upcoming Paris Olympics, featuring prominent drivers. Yet, it has sparked controversy. Why? Just because they included Bubba Wallace.

Considering his lackluster performance this season, NASCAR’s intention behind Wallace’s inclusion seems to be quite clear: to showcase diversity and counter past racial controversies. This move has led to a backlash from NASCAR purists, who believe performance should be the primary criterion. However, the reason for choosing Wallace, despite his poor performance, begs scrutiny as history has been worrisome.

The NASCAR community has dealt with racial issues lately, highlighted by incidents involving Kyle Larson and Noah Gragson. Back in 2021, when Larson was with Chip Ganassi Racing, he was participating in an iRacing event, and when he lost communication with his spotter, he uttered a racial slur. This happened on a Sunday. By Monday morning, he was suspended by CGR and NASCAR. By Tuesday, the team released a statement:  “After much consideration, Chip Ganassi Racing has determined that it will end its relationship with driver Kyle Larson.”

While he issued a public apology, the damage – as he rightfully said himself – was unrepairable, leading to a significant loss of sponsorships and suspension. Similarly, Gragson faced suspension at the hands of NASCAR and Legacy Motor Club for liking an insensitive meme related to George Floyd in 2023. He, too, issued an apology, writing, “I am disappointed in myself for my lack of attention and actions on social media… I understand the severity of this situation.”

Such events have led to NASCAR taking an even stronger stand against racism. Thus, NASCAR’s decision to feature Wallace was seen as an effort to repair its image. However, a question looms large.

Wallace once shared how his mother told him, “God has a bigger plan for me than just being a racecar driver.” He followed by saying, “And she was right.” So, is it only a win on the tracks that can serve as an inspiration for others? After all, Wallace’s racing journey isn’t only marked by wins and top-five finishes. It is also marked by his fight to get the Confederate flag banned and the various incidents that could have plagued his spirits.

Yet, NASCAR’s post has led to a wave of criticism from fans who argue that merit and performance should not be overlooked.

Amidst champs and best drivers, fans wonder why “mid-pack” Bubba Wallace made an appearance

Featuring alongside Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, and Denny Hamlin, reactions to Bubba Wallace’s inclusion in the Team USA poster have been mixed. One fan used statistics to make a sarcastic remark. They wrote, “Since 2018 – Bubba 2 wins, Byron 13 wins. Yeah, Bubba is the better choice,” highlighting the disparity in performance.

The basis for this comparison may have been that Wallace and Byron joined the Cup Series around the same time – Bubba in 2017 and William in 2018. And as the user rightly pointed out, the latter has more wins. In 2024, the HMS driver has amassed 3 wins, 6 top-5s, and 10 top-10s. On the other hand, Wallace has 0 wins, 3 top-5s, and 5 top-10s. Considering this, even a Bubba Wallace fan expressed confusion: “I’m actually a Bubba Wallace fan, but why is he here?”

The sentiment was echoed by others who felt that while diversity is important, it should not overshadow performance. Comments like “Replace Bubba with Truex, and we’ll be there.” Martin Truex Jr, who’s retiring at the end of the season, may still be chasing his first win of 2024, but he’s had the honor of leading the standings at one point. Unfortunately, Bubba Wallace can’t say the same for himself.

Describing the others in comparison to the 23X1 Racing driver, another commented, “Denny 3 wins this year, Blaney last year’s champ, Chase=champ and points leader, Larson is the best driver in the world, and we’ve also got the guy who’s 16th in points and runs mid-pack every week.” In his defense, Wallace is 14th in the standing right now. However, his highest finish this year came at the All-Star Race – a P2. In comparison, his teammate Tyler Reddick won the Geico 500 and is in P6 in the standings.

It is clear that the frustration among fans rose from more deserving drivers being overlooked. Despite the backlash, there were also supportive voices. One fan optimistically commented, “Good luck, Team USA’s NASCAR team! 🙌,” and another exclaimed, “Yay, diversity! 🎉,” showing that the initiative still had positive sentiments. How do you think NASCAR will address these concerns raised by its purist fans?