{"id":49980,"date":"2025-07-31T12:10:07","date_gmt":"2025-07-31T12:10:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/49980\/"},"modified":"2025-07-31T12:10:07","modified_gmt":"2025-07-31T12:10:07","slug":"nascar-star-bubba-wallace-robbed-of-1m-payout-by-controversial-cup-series-decision","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/49980\/","title":{"rendered":"NASCAR star Bubba Wallace ‘robbed’ of $1m payout by controversial Cup Series decision"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bubba Wallace<\/a> left Indianapolis Motor Speedway late on Sunday as a NASCAR Cup Series winner once again, but he could have been $1 million richer as well. <\/p>\n

\nWallace, now 31, had to wait three long years and 100 miserable races to finally snap a winless streak that stretched way back to 2022. <\/p>\n

\nNASCAR HEADLINES: Brutal Kyle Busch verdict emerges as Cup Series team hit with DOUBLE penalty<\/a> <\/p>\n

\nHe held off Hendrick Motorsports star Kyle Larson in a thrilling finish after holding his nerve under massive pressure as the checkered flag beckoned. <\/p>\n

\nAs well as the win, and a massive post-race party (at which he took center stage shirtless), Wallace nailed down a spot in the postseason Cup Series playoffs. But he did miss out on what could have been a massive financial bonus. <\/p>\n

\nREAD MORE: NASCAR icon will not congratulate Bubba Wallace for Indy win<\/a> <\/p>\n

In-Season Challenge decision costs Wallace<\/p>\n

\nThis is courtesy of the controversial decision by NASCAR<\/a> to seed its new In-Season Challenge based on a three-race qualification period. <\/p>\n

\nMany experts believed it was the wrong move, claiming instead that seeding should have been based on regular-season standings when the Challenge began. <\/p>\n

\nThat decision saw Wallace and his No. 23 car seeded ninth, which saw him face off against Daniel Suarez in round one, and eventually, Alex Bowman in round two, whom he was knocked out by. <\/p>\n

\nHowever, as perfectly illustrated in this bracket here<\/a>, the 23XI Racing star would have gone on to claim victory in the In-Season tournament had his seeding been based on the regular season. <\/p>\n

\nWallace would have been seeded 10th and, based on results over the five In-Season Challenge races, would have defeated Todd Gilliland, Austin Dillon, Kyle Larson, Tyler Reddick and Justin Haley on the way to scooping the cash. <\/p>\n

\nInstead, it was Ty Gibbs<\/a> in the No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota who defeated Ty Dillon on Sunday to claim that $1million prize. He needed to finish ahead of Dillon in the Brickyard 400 and did so with a 21st-place result. Dillon was 28th – three laps down. <\/p>\n

\nREAD MORE: NASCAR confirm Ross Chastain set for racing series switch<\/a><\/p>\n

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