The incident between Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin at the 2022 NASCAR Playoffs race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was one of the more controversial moments of the season, sparking debates on fault and racing etiquette.
During the race, Wallace was involved in a collision with Hamlin after a series of aggressive racing moves. Hamlin, who had a fast car and was running in the top positions, was on the inside lane, while Wallace was racing for position in the middle of the pack. As the two drivers battled, Wallace appeared to get loose, resulting in him making contact with Hamlin’s car, causing Hamlin to spin out and crash into the wall.
From Wallace’s perspective, the incident was a racing deal. He maintained that he wasn’t trying to intentionally wreck Hamlin but instead got loose as he was racing for position. On the other hand, Hamlin and many in the NASCAR community argued that Wallace’s actions were reckless and that he didn’t make enough of an effort to avoid the contact, which ultimately caused Hamlin’s crash.
NASCAR officials reviewed the incident and decided that Wallace was at fault, issuing him a 1-race suspension. Many felt this was the right call, as Wallace’s aggressive driving led to unnecessary contact and damage to another competitor. However, Wallace and his supporters believed the penalty was excessive, given that such incidents are common in short-track racing, where close-quarters racing often leads to contact.
Ultimately, while both drivers were racing hard, Wallace’s actions were deemed to be more reckless than Hamlin’s, which led to the official ruling. The incident highlighted the fine line between aggressive racing and driving that jeopardizes the safety and fair competition of others.
