NASCAR thrives on competition, both on and off the track, with rivalries that can simmer for years, fueled by incidents, heated words, and even physical altercations. The feud between Bubba Wallace and Aric Almirola is one of the most talked-about in recent memory, starting as an on-track disagreement that has spiraled into something much bigger, affecting their careers and public perceptions. This ongoing tension has captivated fans and media alike, as it continues to evolve with each new incident.
The rivalry between Wallace and Almirola has been marked by several confrontations, including a notable incident during a competition meeting where the two drivers exchanged blows. This incident highlighted a potential rift or animosity between the two drivers. But when Bubba Wallace was asked about the same last year, he said, “I think I said enough at Charlotte last year.”
With Wallace being tight-lipped about the incident that happened behind closed doors, it looked like this feud was settled. But, the 23XI Racing driver’s recent antics on social media suggest there’s still bad blood between him and Almirola.
Bubba Wallace reignites his feud with Almirola
The recent controversy has sparked discussions about favoritism and how NASCAR handles internal conflicts. Spider from Rubbin Is Racing noted, “Did you guys see Bubba Wallace’s tweet following the Finish?” This statement seemed to reference past tensions, as Wallace quote-tweeted Jeff Gluck’s poll, saying, “You’re acting like the 17 got dot dot dot sucker punched”. Wallace was reacting to the controversial last-lap pass he made on Alex Bowman, but clearly his message had a hidden meaning.
Spider’s observation highlights how Wallace’s tweet reignited discussions about the past altercation. By referencing the incident in a public forum, Wallace kept the narrative alive, suggesting that the tension between them remains unresolved. And even Spider like the rest of us is keen to know the details behind the mess that JGR and Toyota have kept under the rug. “I wish he as Bubba about that when he was in here even off the Record just so we could know what exactly happened.”
The tension between Bubba Wallace and Aric Almirola has been simmering for some time now. And it can be traced back to the 2023 Coca-Cola 600 race. After a series of intense laps where Wallace and Almirola were racing closely, Almirola confronted Wallace during the break, accusing him of reckless driving. The argument escalated, with Almirola shoving Wallace. Wallace didn’t retaliate physically but made it clear he wasn’t backing down. Almirola expressed frustration, saying, “He ran me all over the race track, and then he got by me and shot me the bird“. Wallace brushed it off, attributing it to passion, stating, “That’s just passion, man. That’s what we do“.
You acting like the 17 got.. sucker punched https://t.co/oNYdUalVIg
— Bubba Wallace (@BubbaWallace) March 9, 2025
This incident set the stage for future confrontations. Fast forward to May 2024, and the tension between them escalated again. During a Toyota competition meeting, an altercation reportedly broke out between the two. Almirola allegedly instigated a physical confrontation, leading to his suspension from Joe Gibbs Racing’s Xfinity Series program. NASCAR and Toyota kept the details vague, but Wallace’s cryptic response only fueled speculation. When asked about the incident, Wallace said, “They don’t want me to get into details to keep some people’s images good,” implying that Almirola may have gotten off lightly.
The co-host of Rubbin Is Racing observed that the incident might have turned public opinion against Almirola, stating, “I think that turned a lot of people’s favor away from Almirola and the back end of NASCAR“. Spider agreed, noting that Wallace’s tweet seemed to confirm the rumors and that Wallace might still be holding a grudge. He said, “Yeah and it’s funny because I feel like the tweet from Bubba Wallace on Saturday following the Xfinity race kind of was confirmation of all those like you know like you said like shhh! story lines about this actually happening“.
The JGR and Toyota camp are trying their best to not spill the exact details behind the incident. But the silence and cryptic jab by Bubba Wallace suggest that Almirola could be the culprit that they are trying to save. Not only that the veteran JGR driver’s antics to ram Bowman into the wall in Phoenix has also become a big talking point. While the sentiment was against Almirola in the manner he bagged the win, Wallace’s team owner Denny Hamlin had a rather interesting take on the incident.
Hamlin bats out for Almirola despite Wallace’s cryptic jab
As Alex Bowman climbed out of his car at Phoenix Raceway, the frustration was evident. The No. 17 driver was within reach of victory, only to see it slip away in the final chaotic moments. He had felt the contact, fought for control, and watched Almirola surge ahead in the last 200 feet. Despite giving the No. 19 car the room to enter the final corner, he was surprised to see being rammed into the wall by his rival. “Just tried to capitalize on that restart, trying to win the race and got shoved in the fence and the race car’s destroyed,” he admitted. “Bummer but you’ll have that in big-time auto racing.” Clearly, Bowman wanted to have a fair chance for a win and felt he was rubbed wrong.
While Bowman openly voiced his frustration, Denny Hamlin took a different route. Despite the blatant last-lap move by Aric Almirola, he gave him the benefit of the doubt, stating that Bowman could’ve dealt with the situation better. “I think he just gave Aric too big of a window, and he gave him an out to do what he did. Not that I’m saying it’s wrong, right or whatever. In the Xfinity race, Alex should have just ran the bottom and forced Aric to knock him out of the way. That would have, you gave him an opportunity to do it somewhat cleanish.”
This was indeed surprising to see Hamlin bat out for the JGR veteran driver, knowing that his driver Bubba Wallace has issues with him. It will be interesting to see if Wallace does reveal the true story and what impact it could have on Almirola’s image, which for the most part is clean.
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