Bubba Wallace Breaks Silence on $10 Million NASCAR Fine After Daytona Crash Controversy

In a dramatic turn of events at the NASCAR Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway, Bubba Wallace found himself at the center of a storm that has sent shockwaves through the racing world. The 23XI Racing driver was slapped with an unprecedented $10 million fine by NASCAR following a massive 12-car pileup during Stage 1 of the race on August 24, 2025. The incident, which ended the day for several top drivers, including Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin, sparked heated debates among fans, drivers, and officials. Now, Wallace has broken his silence, attributing the crash to a mechanical failure in Kyle Larson’s brakes and filing a formal complaint with NASCAR, raising questions about accountability and fairness in the sport.

The Daytona crash was a spectacle that halted the race under a red flag on lap 27. As the field roared into the tri-oval, Wallace’s No. 23 Toyota appeared to lose control after contact from behind, veering into Joey Logano’s car and triggering a chain reaction that collected a dozen vehicles. The wreckage included heavy hitters like Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, and Kyle Busch, leaving fans and analysts scrambling to dissect the chaos. Wallace, who emerged unscathed and was later cleared from the infield care center, initially took responsibility for the incident. “I hate that. I’ll take the blame for it, unfortunately. Just a crap deal. Everything was going too good, too early to be all true,” Wallace told NBC’s Parker Kligerman, hinting at external factors. He specifically pointed to a hit from Larson’s No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, stating, “The hit from the 5 shoved me down there, and it was like I got shoved up by the 22 when the 12 moved up.”

However, Wallace’s latest statement shifts the narrative dramatically. In a detailed response to the $10 million fine—an amount that dwarfs previous NASCAR penalties—the driver insists the incident stemmed from a mechanical issue with Larson’s car. “The data is clear,” Wallace said in an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com. “Kyle’s brakes malfunctioned, causing him to slow abruptly in a high-speed zone. I had no time to react. This wasn’t reckless driving on my part; it was a chain reaction sparked by a failure in his equipment.” Wallace’s team, 23XI Racing, has backed his claim, submitting telemetry data to NASCAR that purportedly shows Larson’s No. 5 car decelerating by nearly 20 mph at the exit of the corner, an unusual move for that section of the track.

The controversy has reignited tensions between Wallace and Larson, whose history includes a high-profile clash at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2022. In that incident, Wallace was suspended for one race after intentionally wrecking Larson’s car in retaliation for aggressive racing, a move that also collected playoff contender Christopher Bell. NASCAR cited Wallace’s actions as a violation of its code of conduct, specifically for “intentionally wrecking another vehicle” and posing “a dangerous risk to the safety of competitors.” The Daytona incident, however, presents a different scenario, with Wallace arguing that mechanical failure, not intent, was the catalyst. His formal complaint to NASCAR demands a review of Larson’s car data and a reconsideration of the fine, which he calls “excessive and unfair.”

Kyle Larson, for his part, has acknowledged his role in the Daytona crash but stopped short of confirming a mechanical issue. “I was checking up so that’s embarrassing,” Larson radioed during the race, admitting to an overly cautious move to avoid contact with Tyler Reddick, who had hit the wall ahead. Larson’s abrupt slowdown, as he explained, was an attempt to stay out of trouble, but it caught Wallace off guard, who was tucked tightly behind him. “I didn’t mean for it to happen, but I slowed to avoid Reddick, and Bubba was right there. It’s a racing incident, but I feel bad for being part of it,” Larson told reporters post-race. Data from Auto Racing Analytics supports this, showing Larson applied the brakes in a non-typical zone, unlike the previous lap.

The $10 million fine has raised eyebrows across the NASCAR community, not only for its size but also for its timing. NASCAR has historically been reluctant to issue severe penalties, particularly suspensions, as they aim to keep fan-favorite drivers on the track. For context, William Byron was fined $100,000 and docked 25 points (later rescinded) for spinning Denny Hamlin under caution in 2022, while Noah Gragson faced a $35,000 fine and 30-point deduction for a retaliatory wreck the same year. Wallace himself was fined $50,000 in 2019 for intentionally spinning at Texas Motor Speedway, a penalty tied to his admission of guilt rather than conclusive data. The scale of the Daytona fine suggests NASCAR is taking a harder stance, possibly in response to growing safety concerns with the Next Gen car, which has been scrutinized for head injury risks following incidents involving drivers like Alex Bowman and Kurt Busch.

Denny Hamlin, Wallace’s team co-owner and a victim of the Daytona crash, offered a nuanced perspective. “I’m looking at it, and I don’t think [Larson] hit him. The five was already on him close, but no. That’s just the 23 not clear,” Hamlin said on his podcast, Actions Detrimental. His comments contrast with Wallace’s spotter, Freddie Kraft, who claimed Larson “tried to force himself through,” contributing to the wreck. This discrepancy has fueled online debates, with fans on X divided over whether Wallace was unfairly targeted or if his driving was to blame. Some point to his history of on-track incidents, while others argue the fine is disproportionate given the evidence of Larson’s brake issue.

The fallout from Daytona extends beyond the fine. Wallace, who secured a playoff spot with his Brickyard 400 win in July 2025, faces scrutiny as he heads into the postseason. His victory at Indianapolis, where he outlasted Larson in a rain-delayed, double-overtime thriller, showcased his talent and resilience. Yet, the Daytona incident has cast a shadow over his campaign, with critics questioning his decision-making under pressure. Meanwhile, Larson, already playoff-bound after his Homestead win, is focused on rebounding at Darlington, where he slipped to sixth in the standings following a 37th-place DNF at Daytona.

As NASCAR reviews Wallace’s complaint, the sport grapples with broader questions about safety, penalties, and consistency. The unprecedented fine signals a potential shift in how NASCAR polices on-track incidents, particularly those involving mechanical failures versus driver intent. Wallace’s case could set a precedent, especially if data substantiates his claim about Larson’s brakes. For now, the driver remains defiant, vowing to fight the penalty while preparing for the playoff opener at Darlington. “I’m not here to make enemies, but I’m not here to be pushed around either,” Wallace said. “The truth is in the data, and I trust NASCAR will see that.”

With the racing world watching, the resolution of this saga could reshape perceptions of fairness and accountability in NASCAR. Fans are left wondering: will Wallace’s complaint overturn the fine, or will the sport’s governing body stand firm? As the playoffs loom, one thing is certain—Daytona’s echoes will resonate far beyond the tri-oval.