Bubba Wallace has been suspended for one race by NASCAR following an incident at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where he intentionally wrecked Kyle Larson during the Cup Series race. As a result, 23XI Racing has announced that John Hunter Nemechek will replace Wallace in the No. 45 Toyota at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The altercation occurred on Lap 94 when Larson’s car slid up into Wallace, causing him to hit the outside wall. In retaliation, Wallace deliberately crashed into Larson’s car, leading to both vehicles spinning out. Afterward, Wallace exited his car and confronted Larson, pushing him.
NASCAR deemed Wallace’s actions as intentional wrecking, violating the NASCAR Member Code of Conduct. This led to the one-race suspension, marking the first suspension for a Cup Series driver due to on-track behavior since 2015.
In response, 23XI Racing expressed alignment with NASCAR’s decision and appointed Nemechek as the substitute driver. Nemechek, a Toyota-affiliated driver with experience in the Truck Series, previously made Cup Series starts with Front Row Motorsports. He will be making his 40th start in NASCAR’s premier series at Homestead.
Wallace has since apologized for his actions, acknowledging the need for personal growth and learning from the incident.
This suspension underscores NASCAR’s commitment to maintaining discipline and sportsmanship among its drivers, ensuring that on-track behavior aligns with the values of the sport.
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