Bubba Wallace and Kyle Larson have a tumultuous history. The two drivers have experienced some intense moments on the racetrack over the years. During Sunday’s race at Richmond, another one of these moments occurred when Bubba Wallace, driving for 23XI Racing, spun out his competitor from Hendrick Motorsports on the second-to-last lap of the Cup race, resulting in NASCAR calling for caution.
This incident had a significant impact on the race’s outcome as it led to overtime. Taking advantage of the situation, Bubba Wallace’s team owner emerged as the victor, surpassing his teammate with some questionable maneuvers during the restart. Kyle Larson managed to recover and secure a third-place finish, while the Toyota driver’s chances of a top-10 position were ruined by a botched pit stop.
Wallace took full responsibility for the crash and approached Larson after the race to express his apologies. He made it clear that the incident was not intentional. Surprisingly, the 2021 Cup champion seemed unfazed by the incident and wore a big smile on his face. It is worth noting that the No. 5 Chevy’s instability on the corner also played a role in the crash.
The response from Larson was admirable, as he reassured Wallace that it was not his fault and that he should not worry about it. Fans on social media had mixed reactions to the incident. Many praised Bubba Wallace for his willingness to apologize and the sportsmanship he displayed, despite their complicated history. Some even suggested that Wallace should also apologize to Martin Truex Jr., as the incident cost the 2017 Cup champion a well-deserved victory.
However, there were fans who doubted the sincerity of Wallace’s apology, dismissing it as a mere PR move. As usual, there were also negative comments aimed at downplaying Wallace’s gesture, which should be appreciated.
Overall, the majority of fans appreciated Bubba Wallace’s apology and acknowledged the maturity and growth he has shown. They commended him for taking responsibility and ending any potential animosity between the two drivers. Larson’s acceptance of the apology with a smile on his face also demonstrated his class. Such moments between drivers should occur more frequently and set a positive example for the future.