NASCAR Star Bubba Wallace Slams Cup Series Rivals in Brutally Honest Verdict
In a candid and fiery post-race interview, NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace didn’t hold back his frustration with his fellow competitors, offering a brutally honest critique of the current racing culture and calling out what he sees as a growing lack of respect on the track.
Following a chaotic and contact-heavy race at Martinsville Speedway, Wallace, driver of the No. 23 Toyota for 23XI Racing, voiced his dissatisfaction with how some drivers have been racing, especially in tight quarters. “It’s just reckless,” Wallace said. “Every single week, it’s like we’re out here running demolition derbies instead of races. You’ve got guys making desperation moves 50 laps into a race like it’s the final lap. There’s no give and take anymore, just take.”
Wallace, who has grown into one of the sport’s most vocal and high-profile figures, was particularly upset about multiple incidents during the race that saw him shuffled back due to aggressive driving from competitors he believes should know better. While he didn’t name names, his frustration was clearly directed at several top-tier Cup Series drivers.
“There used to be a code,” Wallace continued. “You raced people how you wanted to be raced. Now, it’s just elbows out, zero respect. You can’t race like that every single lap and expect the field to survive. And when you call it out, people act like you’re the problem.”
Wallace’s comments come amid a growing conversation in the NASCAR world about the level of aggression in the Cup Series, especially with the Next Gen car promoting closer competition and more contact. While fans have enjoyed the unpredictability and action, many drivers have expressed concern over the increasing number of on-track incidents.
Veteran drivers like Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick have echoed similar sentiments in recent months, warning that the sport is approaching a breaking point if things don’t change. Wallace’s remarks, however, mark one of the more pointed critiques from a current driver, and they are sure to stir debate within the garage.
“I want hard racing,” Wallace said. “But I also want clean racing. I want to go out there and battle wheel-to-wheel with the best, not worry about who’s going to dump me for 12th place. We’re professionals—at least, we’re supposed to be.”
Despite the on-track frustrations, Wallace still managed a respectable finish, keeping his playoff hopes alive. But he made it clear that he wants to see a shift in how races are being run—and soon.
“If this is the new normal,” Wallace warned, “then we’re all going to be leaving the track more pissed off than proud. And that’s not what NASCAR is supposed to be about.”
Whether his comments will prompt any change remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Bubba Wallace isn’t afraid to speak his mind—and he’s demanding more from the sport he loves.
