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Saajan Jogia is a motorsport and automotive writer with over ten years of experience. His passion for cars and motorcycles has been a driving force behind his evolution as a writer. He has extensively covered Formula 1, MotoGP, IndyCar, NASCAR, WEC, and technology for publications including Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News, Newsweek, and Men’s Journal.
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23XI Racing driver Bubba Wallace has owned up to causing a massive 12-car wreck during the NASCAR Coke Zero Sugar 400 Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway. The incident occurred in Stage 1 of the race, ending the day for several drivers.
Fortunately for Wallace, he has already secured a spot in the playoffs after winning the race at Indianapolis. But the race at Daytona saw several big names from NASCAR being affected, including Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, and Denny Hamlin.
Wallace was at the front when he reportedly lost control and crashed into the other cars. Being cleared from the medical center, he told NBC‘s Parker Kligerman that Larson’s No. 5 car pushed him. He said:
“The hit from the 5 shoved me down there, and it was like I got shoved up by the 22 when the 12 moved up. He was trying to just move up and take a lane, but oh well. Man, I hate it. 22nd to the lead in a short amount of time.”
Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 Columbia Toyota, and Kyle Busch, driver of the #8 Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Chevrolet, are involved in an incident during the NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona…
Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 Columbia Toyota, and Kyle Busch, driver of the #8 Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Chevrolet, are involved in an incident during the NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on August 23, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
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However, he ended up taking the blame for the incident. He said:
“I hate that. I’ll take the blame for it, unfortunately. Just a crap deal. Everything was going too good, too early to be all true. So something was bound to happen. I hate that we were involved in it, but hopefully, we can get the 45 in still. So, all in all, we’re locked in. Let’s get focused for Darlington, and I’m okay.”
However, Wallace’s spotter, Freddie Kraft, revealed his observation, stating that it was Larson who tried to force himself through. He said:
“5 [Larson] just tried to f*cking force middle there.”
NASCAR Coke Zero Sugar 400 Cup Series Race ResultsRyan Blaney, No. 12Daniel Suarez, No. 99Justin Haley, No. 7Cole Custer, No. 41Erik Jones, No. 43Kyle Larson, No. 5Chris Buescher, No. 17Ty Gibbs, No. 54Josh Berry, No. 21Chase Elliott, No. 9Todd Gilliland, No. 34Michael McDowell, No. 71Christopher Bell, No. 20Ryan Preece, No. 60Ross Chastain, No. 1Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42Brad Keselowski, No. 6William Byron, No. 24Cody Ware, No. 51Tyler Reddick, No. 45Ty Dillon, No. 10Chase Briscoe, No. 19Austin Dillon, No. 3Denny Hamlin, No. 11AJ Allmendinger, No. 16Joey Logano, No. 22Joey Gase, No. 44Casey Mears, No. 66Austin Hill, No. 33Zane Smith, No. 38BJ McLeod, No. 78Kyle Busch, No. 8Carson Hocevar, No. 77Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47Alex Bowman, No. 48Bubba Wallace, No. 23Noah Gragson, No. 4Austin Cindric, No. 2Riley Herbst, No. 35