Well, on second thought, yep. Bubba Wallace has now been fined $50,000 and docked 50 championship points for an intentional spin in last weekend’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series event.
There seemed to be no penalties stemming from what appeared to be an intentional spin by Bubba Wallace in last Sunday’s AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. While the move looked intentional, as Wallace was able to save himself from going multiple laps down with a flat tire by doing it, there was no way for the sanctioning body to prove his intent.
That is, until Wallace admitted so in a chat with NBC Sports’ Dustin Long on Friday at Phoenix.
In the chat, Wallace said that at the moment he decided to spin, he wasn’t driving for anyone else, but himself and that he learned the move from Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano — insinuating that the Team Penske drivers have both been guilty of this same infraction in the past.
Wallace would go on to say that he and others would continue to spin on purpose until NASCAR finally steps in and does something.
Now, on Saturday, NASCAR has done just that.
The penalty for Wallace is significant as Wallace has averaged 13.88 points per race in 2019. The 50-point penalty, which has been levied is nearly like deducting four races from his point total.
The penalty will drop Wallace from 27th to 28th in the championship standings.
Richard Petty Motorsports’ competition director Philippe Lopez released a statement following the news of the penalty, saying that Wallace will not appeal the penalty.
“Our team met with NASCAR officials this morning to discuss Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr.’s post-practice comments on Friday, November 8, concerning an on-track incident which occurred at the Texas Motor Speedway. We fully understand NASCAR’s position and expectations of its competitors. NASCAR has a difficult job officiating race evenets and we do not need to make the task more challenging. Wallace will not appeal the penalty, and will direct his immediate focus to this weekend’s event at the ISM Raceway.”
Here is video of Wallace’s chat with Long, which led to the penalties:
#NASCAR … Here is what ?@BubbaWallace? said about his spin last weekend at ?@TXMotorSpeedway? pic.twitter.com/8wkyaf4NC6
— Dustin Long (@dustinlong) November 9, 2019
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