October 18, 2022 | By Lee Spencer

Bubba Wallace draws one-race suspension for wrecking Kyle Larson at Las Vegas

NASCAR has suspended Bubba Wallace for this weekend’s activities following a racing incident involving Kyle Larson at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday.

Under sections 4.3.A; 4.4.C & E: NASCAR Member Code of Conduct of the NASCAR Rulebook, the sanctioning body has elected to park the driver for the next NASCAR Cup Series Championship event. No additional points or fines were assessed to the driver on Tuesday.

Larson crowded the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota up to the wall coming out of Turn 4. Wallace retaliated by hooking the right rear of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet and shipping Larson into the wall—but not before taking out Christopher Bell in the process. Wallace left his car on the track and then charged Larson until safety officials broke up the shoving match.

“As you look at this, our actions are really specific to what took place on the racetrack and when we look at how that incident occurred, in our minds really a dangerous act we thought that was intentional and put other competitors at risk,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR Chief Operating Officer on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. “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.”  

O'Donnell said the sanctioning body used data and other tools to arrive at their conclusion. 

“We've got a lot of data available to us and we looked at that data and kind of reviewed the incident from a bunch of different angles,” O’Donnell added. “In our view and our determination through conversations, that's where we ended up.

“We believe that it was a heat-of-the-moment action that took place. I think you saw through Bubba’s statement if he had to do that all over again I think maybe it would be a different circumstance. We understand that it's a dangerous sport and drivers are out there, there's a lot of emotion, there's a lot on the line, and everybody's racing their guts out which is awesome for the sport. it's never been better in terms of that but in this case, you know we just felt across the line and we really had to react because it's an action that we don't want to see going forward.

"I know fans and people like to compare well you know the what ifs or what happened in the past. For us, this was the reaction based on what took place Sunday and what we don't want to see going forward in races that take place from the competitors. We want to draw that line and be as clear as we can for our competitors on where we stand."

On Monday night, Wallace posted his mea culpa via Twitter: “I want to apologize for my actions on Sunday following the on-track incident with Kyle Larson and the No. 5 car. My behavior does not align with the core values that are shared by 23XI Racing and our partners, who have played a crucial role in my incredible journey to the top of this great sport. I want to apologize to NASCAR and the fans, along with Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing, and Toyota for putting them in a situation in the Playoffs that they do not deserve.

“I compete with immense passion, and with passion at times comes frustration. Upon reflecting, I should have represented our partners and core team values better than I did by letting my frustrations follow me outside of the car. You live and learn, and I intend to learn from this.”

Wallace, who turned 29 on Oct. 8, is in his second season with 23XI Racing. He scored his first career Cup win last year with the team and then backed it up with a victory at Kansas Speedway last month. In his fifth full season on the Cup tour, he has yet to qualify for the Playoffs.

In his weekly appearance on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio's Morning Drive, NASCAR Cup champion Joey Logano called Wallace's actions unacceptable. 

“The retaliation is not ok in the way it happened,” Logano said. “If you spun him into the infield, maybe it’s a little better, but right-rear hooking someone in the dogleg? That’s not OK. I don’t think everyone realizes how bad that could have been That could've been the end of Kyle Larson's career. That, to me, was what was on the line. Or his life. That is the worse spot to get right rear hooked into a corner. That dogleg is pretty sharp.

“When you hit the angle, the way he hit, in a way, he’s lucky he hit the 20 (Bell) to soften it a little bit. He might have flushed hit that thing on the side—and that’s game over. And there’s no room for that. No room for that. You can’t do that.”

Two hours after NASCAR announced its decision, 23XI Racing released the following statement: 

“23XI is aligned with NASCAR on the one-race suspension issued to Bubba and we understand the need for the series to take a clear stand on the incidents that took place at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Bubba’s actions are not in keeping with the values of our team and partners. We have spoken to Bubba and expressed our disapproval of how he handled the situation. Bubba has made impressive strides this season and this experience is an opportunity for him to further learn and grow as a competitor in NASCAR.

"As a result of the penalty, John Hunter Nemechek will drive the No. 45 Toyota this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.”