Dale Earnhardt Jr. provides a logical opinion on the contentious altercation.
Bubba Wallace, Dale Earnhardt Jr. (In Circle), and Aric Almirola (Via IMAGO)
Last month, it was revealed that the reason for a seasoned individual from Joe Gibbs Racing’s Xfinity garage being let go was due to a physical confrontation he had with a member of 23XI Racing. During a Competition Meeting between JGR and 23XI drivers prior to the Charlotte race week, the two individuals engaged in a fight that did not sit well with Joe Gibbs.
After assessing the situation, JGR determined that Aric Almirola, who has a tumultuous history with Bubba Wallace, was the one who initiated the altercation and subsequently suspended him. While discussing this on his podcast, the Hall of Famer acknowledged that the specific details of the fight would likely remain undisclosed, as a sign of respect for the drivers involved.
Joe Gibbs Racing managed to keep the fight and suspension confidential for over a month before the news was made public. By the time it was revealed, everyone involved was likely ready to move on. Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin provided vague responses when asked about the incident, indicating their lack of interest in dwelling on it.
Expanding on this point, Earnhardt Jr. emphasized his trust in Joe Gibbs Racing, believing that they made the appropriate decision and handled the situation as they saw fit. He considers Almirola’s suspension to be the correct course of action.
He later acknowledged that he does not feel the need to know additional details about the incident, as what he already knows is sufficient. Earnhardt Jr. hopes that this incident will not hinder Almirola’s retirement plans, as he is set to return to racing at Indy.
