Bubba Wallace and Aric Almirola have a tumultuous history between them. Wallace and Almirola returned to Joe Gibbs Racing in the 2024 season after retiring from full-time Cup racing with SHR. Wallace joined JGR’s Xfinity team as a part-time driver and mentor for young Toyota drivers. However, he was suddenly replaced for the Charlotte Xfinity race and has been absent from the garage since then.
This sparked rumors that Wallace was either fired or let go by JGR, despite already winning a race for them at Martinsville this season. However, recent reports from Fox Sports confirm that the truth is quite different. Aric Almirola was actually suspended after a physical altercation with Wallace during a competition meeting where JGR and 23XI Racing drivers were present.
The veteran driver was given the suspension as the team determined that he was the one who initiated the fight. This incident coincidentally occurred exactly one year after the confrontation the duo had during the 2023 Cup race at Charlotte. When asked about the incident, Wallace firmly denied the claims that it took place.
Heading into the 2024 season, Bubba Wallace had hopes of making a deep playoff run. However, with only eight races left in the season, he finds himself in a precarious position. In order to advance, Wallace will need to either win races or consistently achieve top-10 finishes. This will be particularly challenging considering his rivalry with the two-time champion.
Wallace is hoping that the Almirola controversy will not negatively impact his performance in the upcoming races. He wants to overcome this obstacle and secure solid finishes to secure a playoff berth. It will be interesting to see how everything unfolds for him in the days to come.