23XI Racing driver Bubba Wallace was the center of attention last weekend after he allegedly caused a massive wreck during Stage 1 of the NASCAR Coke Zero Sugar 400 Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway. His team’s co-owner, Denny Hamlin, who was also affected by the incident, has blamed Wallace for the crash.
In addition to Hamlin, several drivers, including Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson, were also affected by the incident. Wallace reportedly lost control of his car and crashed into the others on the field.
While Wallace revealed after the incident that a hit from Larson’s No. 5 car pushed him into the gap, he chose to blame himself for the wreck. Newsweek Sports reported his comments:
“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 Alltroo Toyota, walks the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol at Iowa Speedway on August 02, 2025 in Newton, Iowa.
Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 Alltroo Toyota, walks the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol at Iowa Speedway on August 02, 2025 in Newton, Iowa.
Sean Gardner/Getty Images
“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.”
Wallace’s spotter, Freddie Kraft, revealed another version of the story. According to his observation, it was Larson who tried to force himself through. He said:
“5 [Larson] just tried to f*cking force middle there.”
Hamlin spoke about the incident on his Actions Detrimental podcast, revealing that Wallace triggered the big one. He said:
“It looked like to me that Bubba just squeezed those two guys below him down. You could just see that they’re there, two cars on the inside. I don’t know what Freddie [Kraft, Wallace’s spotter] was calling.
“Maybe he was saying three wide top or not — I’m not sure, but he [Wallace] just squeezed on down there, and there was no room. So he ended up wrecking himself, and obviously a few others.”
When asked if Kyle Larson hit Wallace before the incident, Hamlin said:
“I’m looking at it, and I don’t think so. The five [Larson] was already on him close, but no. That’s just the 23 [Wallace] not clear. It’s just one of those not-clear moments.”
The crash ended Wallace’s day at Daytona, but fortunately for him, he already has a spot secured in the playoffs after winning the race at Indianapolis.