Just days after Cup Series drivers Daniel Suarez and Ross Chastain got into a post-race confrontation following the Pennzoil 400, 23XI Racing's Bubba Wallace became the latest to call attention to the fight in NASCAR and the rulemaking that fines drivers when it happens.
Speaking to Frontstretch.com's Dalton Hopkins ahead of Saturday's Cup Series practice and qualifying session at Darlington Raceway, Wallace shared his perspective on whether NASCAR should allow drivers to contend again.
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"I don't think so. When you go wrong... I blame my father, but I also respect him for how he was, he was an eye for an eye, okay? When you're disrespected, it's a fine line to be a better person or make sure they don't do it again. ... There's got to be a fine line because it's going to happen."
NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace on whether he should be fined for fighting other drivers (H/T Dalton Hopkins of Frontstretch.com)
Last Sunday, Suárez got out of his car and came to confront Chastain on pit road. Moments later, bystanders pushed Chastain away before coming between the two drivers to prevent the incident from escalating. A few days later, Suárez said that he would have fought Chastain if he had not received a fine from NASCAR and the impact the fight could have on sponsors' interest.
There hasn't been a fight between NASCAR Cup Series drivers since Ricky Stenhouse Jr. attacked Kyle Busch after the 2024 All-Star Race. Just days after the brawl, NASCAR announced that Stenhouse Jr. was fined $75,000 and two crew members were also suspended for their roles in the brawl.
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The great irony, as Chase Elliott later pointed out, was that NASCAR gave Stenhouse the largest fine ever for the fight, but the video was also used in marketing, to generate engagement on social media and it brought more attention to the sport that many company executives wanted.
Speaking to Hopkins, Wallace proposed something that would give fans, drivers and NASCAR what it wants, while also ensuring that no one gets seriously injured. Adopting something along the lines of hockey rules could help drivers deal with what is perceived as persistent disrespect by a co-worker and prevent things from getting worse.
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"I think that's fair but, we've always talked about hockey rules. Go on the field and then you can stop it, but there's got to be a fine line. Because it's going to happen, you're going to get disrespected unless it's behind the scenes and that's too bad."
Bubba Wallace on NASCAR's current rules regarding fighting and the risks of not allowing it
For Wallace, who recently announced he and his wife welcomed their second child on Thursday, a $75,000 fine for settling differences with another driver after a race isn't fair. If NASCAR ever decides to be a little more lenient in its penalties for fighting, while keeping personnel on the front lines to avoid actual brawls or significant injuries, maybe it could work out for everyone in the long run.
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