Bubba Wallace’s near-win at EchoPark Speedway on Sunday night turned into a crushing defeat after NASCAR penalized him for crossing below the double-yellow line on the final lap. The penalty erased what looked like a runner-up finish and dropped Wallace from second to 29th in the official results.
What happened?
Wallace fought back from an early spin to run near the front all night. He crossed the line second behind Ryan Blaney after an overtime restart. But NASCAR officials ruled he improved his position below the double-yellow line on the final lap. The penalty cost him 27 positions and a mountain of championship points.
How did the penalty affect Bubba Wallace’s family?
Amanda Wallace, Bubba’s wife, followed the race closely on her Instagram Story. She shared messages throughout the night praising her husband’s effort. After the penalty dropped him to 29th, her tone shifted fast. “This is exhausting to watch,” she wrote. “I can’t imagine being (my husband).”
Why Bubba Wallace disagrees with the penalty
Wallace pushed back on the ruling after the race. He argued he never gained a position below the line before returning to the racing surface. “The rule says advancing your position, which I did not do,” he said. “I stayed third from the entry to three, all the way until 50 yards away.” He added that his car didn’t respond well to the move.
The heated talk with Ty Gibbs after the race
The dramatic finish sparked a tense exchange between Wallace and Ty Gibbs on pit road. Wallace said Gibbs failed to give him enough room in the closing laps. “I just said lift,” Wallace said. “He was like, ‘Well, don’t block me.’ It’s like, bro, you hit me square in the bumper.” Wallace called the moment poor teamwork among Toyota drivers.