Bubba Wallace and Aric Almirola have a tumultuous history between them. Wallace and Almirola returned to Joe Gibbs Racing in the 2024 season after retiring from full-time racing with SHR. Wallace joined JGR’s Xfinity team as a part-time driver and mentor for Toyota’s young drivers. However, he was suddenly replaced for the Xfinity race in Charlotte and has been absent from the pit since then.
This has sparked rumors that Wallace was fired or released by JGR, despite already winning a race for them in Martinsville this season. However, recent reports from Fox Sports confirm that the truth is quite different. Aric Almirola was actually suspended after a physical altercation with Wallace during a competition meeting attended by JGR and 23XI Racing drivers.
The veteran driver received the suspension as the team determined that he was the one who started the fight. This incident coincidentally occurred exactly one year after the confrontation the duo had during the 2023 Cup race in Charlotte. When asked about the incident, Wallace firmly denied the allegations that it happened.
Heading into the 2024 season, Bubba Wallace had hopes of making a deep run in the playoffs. However, with only eight races remaining in the season, he finds himself in a precarious position. To advance, Wallace will need to win races or consistently achieve top-ten results. This will be especially challenging considering his rivalry with the two-time champion.
Wallace hopes that the controversy involving Almirola does not negatively affect his performance in the upcoming races. He wants to overcome this obstacle and secure solid results to secure a spot in the playoffs. It will be interesting to see how everything unfolds for him in the coming days.
