Bubba Wallace Weighs In On NASCAR’s Fighting Penalties, Suggests Potential Fix
Days after Cup Series drivers Daniel Suarez and Ross Chastain got into a post-race confrontation following the Pennzoil 400, 23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace became the latest to weigh in on fighting in NASCAR and the rule in place for fining drivers when it happened. Speaking to Dalton Hopkins of Frontstretch. com ahead of Saturday’s Cup Series practice and qualifying sessions at Darlington Raceway, Wallace shared his perspective on whether or not NASCAR should permit drivers to fight again.
Realted: NASCAR Cup Series Starting Lineup at Darlington, See Where Bubba Wallace Starts “I don’t think so. When you’re done wrong…I blame my dad, but I also respect how he was was, He was an eye for an eye, right? When you’re disrespected, it’s a fine line of being the better person or making sure they don’t do it again.
… There needs to be a fine line because it’s gonna keep happening” NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace on if there should be fines for fighting other drivers (H/T Dalton Hopkins of Frontstretch. com) Last Sunday, Suarez got out of his car and came over to confront Chastain on pit road. Chastain shoved him away a few moments later before people got in-between the two drivers to prevent things escalating.
Days later, Suarez said that he would’ve fought Chastain if not for the fine he would receive from NASCAR and the impact fighting can have on interest from sponsors. There hasn’t been a fight involving NASCAR Cup Series drivers since Ricky Stenhouse Jr. swung on Kyle Busch following the 2024 All-Star Race.
Just days after the fracas, NASCAR announced that Stenhouse Jr. was fined $75,000 and two crew members also received suspensions for their roles in the brawl. Related: NASCAR Stage Winners 2026,Bubba Wallace among Stage Stat Leaders The great irony, as Chase Elliott later pointed out , was that NASCAR handed Stenhouse its largest fine ever for fighting but the video was also used for marketing, creating engagement on social media and it brought more attention to the sport that many company executives have wanted.