Global Courant 2023-05-30 15:46:20
Tensions were running high at Charlotte Motor Speedway during Monday night’s Coca-Cola 600, and while the war of words between Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott seemed to get most of the fans’ attention, Aric Almirola and Bubba Wallace were also in a tiff.
Almirola and Wallace seemed to have a tense exchange, and Almirola shoved Wallace. Wallace declined to say what was said that caused the push.
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Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 Dr Pepper Strawberries & Cream Toyota, drives the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 29, 2023 in Concord, North Carolina. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
“When you walk around with two faces, that’s what you get,” said the 23XI Racing team member.
Almirola said he didn’t like how Wallace raced against him on the track.
“Early on in the race. I felt like I was running him pretty clean and I felt like he was racing me pretty dirty,” Almirola said via NASCAR.com. “He ran me around the track and then he got past me and he shot me the bird, so I just went and asked him ‘why are you throwing me the bird’, like I gave him a lot of space and gave him a lot of respect and he started grumbling and just saying a lot of bad things and cursing.
BUBBA WALLACE ‘PUT MORE S— THAN ANYONE DESERVES’, SAYS DALE JR
Aric Almirola, #10 Stewart Haas Racing Ford Smithfield Ford, looks on ahead of the race of the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 on May 29, 2023 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. (Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“I’ve made my point. I informed him that it is not acceptable. He’s not going to scold me and shoot me the bird.’
Wallace finished in fourth place and Almirola finished in 25th.
Ryan Blaney ended his 59-race winless streak with a win at Charlotte.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Bubba Wallace waits for the start during the Tyson 250 at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, May 20, 2023. (Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports)
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“You start to feel like you can’t win anymore,” said Blaney. “We hadn’t won in a while and that can be difficult. I want to thank the 12 (team) for believing in me.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.
