When Bubba Wallace intentionally wrecked Kyle Larson in Las Vegas a few weeks ago, that instantly became the #1 altercation of the season. But an incident in Saturday’s Xfinity Series championship race in Phoenix could’ve given good competition to the Wallace-Larson feud.
This was between season-long rivals Ty Gibbs and Noah Gragson, as both drivers competed for the championship.
Leading up to the race on Saturday, Gibbs had already infuriated almost all his peers with his actions in the race at Martinsville. But it was definitely Noah Gragson, who seemed to have been holding the biggest grudge against the #54 driver.
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This frustration inside Gragson could easily have been unleashed in the most important race of the season as Jamie McMurray, the ex-Chip Ganassi Racing driver recently pointed out.
“Noah just tormented him…he crossed him over and I’m like, in my mind I’m watching that I’m like, Noah is just like, ‘Just hit me once, just hit me one time and give me a reason to go off coz I’m gonna send you,’ and Ty never did it,” he said.
“He (Ty Gibbs) raced him clean. It was unbelievable to watch,” McMurray continued. “He did an incredible job, didn’t make anyone mad. I don’t think he touched anyone all that day long.”
🤝 @NoahGragson went on stage to shake hands and congratulate the No. 54 team and then did so to @TyGibbs.#Championship4 | #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/shpFXJad9g
— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) November 6, 2022
Watch This Story: NASCAR World Jolted by Unfortunate Tragedy as Ty Gibbs Comes to Grips With Terrible Loss
Bubba Wallace on his learnings post his intentional wreck-and-shove of Kyle Larson
Speaking after serving his one-race suspension because of his actions in Vegas, Bubba Wallace opened up on all that he learned from intentionally wrecking the #5 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
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“What have I learned? You have to think before you do. In this sport, it’s the heat of the moment type things that get to you,” he said. “Seeing that and going back and looking at a 10,000-foot view definitely could have handled everything way different and been in a different spot.”
The 23XI Racing driver admitted he put himself, his team, and his sponsors “in a bad light” with his actions.
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“It’s just something that I’m not proud of, but moving on, moving forward, and not allowed to make that mistake again,” Wallace added.