Bubba Wallace became the focus of criticism following his contact with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. during the Bristol night race on Saturday, a key incident in the Ricky Stenhouse Jr crash controversy. The collision unfolded in the middle of the third stage of the NASCAR Cup season’s opening elimination race at Bristol Motor Speedway, intensifying tensions among fans and participants alike.
Wallace, struggling with worn tires, clipped Stenhouse, sending the latter’s No. 47 Chevy hard into the wall and triggering a caution. Many spectators believed Wallace intentionally caused the crash to gain a competitive advantage, sparking fierce backlash across social media platforms. The caution allowed Wallace to pit for fresh tires and regain momentum, though the incident also became a lightning rod for accusations of race manipulation.
Fan Reactions and Accusations Surrounding the Crash
The clash immediately drew sharp reactions from fans. YouTuber Eric Estepp posted,
“Oop.. Bubba Wallace needed a caution and cleaned out Ricky Stenhouse to get it.”
This fueled speculation that Wallace acted deliberately to secure the yellow flag.
Many voices echoed similar suspicions. One fan wrote,
“Wouldn’t be the first time he’s done something on purpose to benefit himself,”
while another questioned,
“Going to blame this one on him like you blamed Byron earlier or does he get a pass cause he’s in a Toyota?”
Another fan bluntly described the move as “Race manipulation,” and yet another added,
“You cannot tell me that was not on purpose to save his race.”
Despite the criticism, a handful of fans defended Wallace, highlighting the challenging circumstances he faced with his tires. One supporter insisted,
“Ricky came down on him. You know this. Stop being stupid on purpose.”
Another pointed out,
“He didn’t need a caution. He would have gotten new tires and driven back to the top five in the cycle. He just had no tire left to stay low on the track.”
After the crash, Wallace apologized to Stenhouse Jr. via radio, explaining that his tires were too worn to allow proper control: his inability to turn down effectively caused the contact. The incident marked the second spin of the night for Stenhouse Jr., intensifying the repercussions of the crash for Hyak Motorsports.
Wallace’s Playoff Position Tightening Ahead of Upcoming Races
Heading into the next stage of the playoffs, Bubba Wallace is precariously positioned just one point above the elimination threshold. Despite two top-10 finishes earlier in the playoffs, Wallace ended 34th at Bristol, placing him eighth in the standings.
The upcoming Round of 12 starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, where Wallace has struggled in the past, recording just two top-10 finishes in seven starts. Subsequent races at Kansas Speedway and the Charlotte Roval will test his consistency further. Notably, Wallace claimed victory at the 2022 Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway but has only achieved one top-5 finish in his five races there since that win. Among the Round of 12 tracks, his best average finish is 10.7 at Charlotte Roval.
This narrow margin above the cutoff line and Wallaces’s mixed history at remaining venues add pressure as the playoffs progress, making every decision and maneuver, including incidents like the one at Bristol, critical to his championship hopes.
