Bubba Wallace Calls Out Helio Castroneves After Daytona, Says He Raced ‘Like a Real Clown’
Bubba Wallace is never one to hold back his opinions, and his latest remarks about IndyCar legend Helio Castroneves’ Daytona 500 debut have stirred up plenty of debate. After a disastrous showing in Daytona Speedweek, Wallace didn’t mince words when assessing Castroneves’ performance, claiming the four-time Indy 500 champion probably left “feeling like a complete clown.”
Castroneves, making his highly anticipated debut in the Great American Race with Trackhouse Racing, was the first driver to benefit from the newly introduced Open Exemption Provisional (OEP). The rule, designed to bring world-class talent into the field, gave him a guaranteed starting spot. However, despite this advantage, his weekend quickly spiraled into disaster. The Brazilian legend failed to qualify on speed, wrecked in his Duel race, crashed in his ARCA debut, and ultimately finished 39th after getting caught in an early-race incident.
During an appearance on the Door Bumper Clear podcast, Bubba Wallace reflected on Castroneves’ struggles with a mix of humor and sympathy. “I sat there and thought about it when I came on the radio and homeboy [Castroneves] was taking his time into Turn 3 versus the Duel, where he was hauling a** and ate sh*t,” Wallace joked. “And I sat there and I thought about it more, and I felt bad for him. I didn’t get a chance to talk to him—I’m sure he’s a great guy—but I’m pretty sure he probably left that whole weekend feeling like a complete clown.”
Wallace’s spotter and podcast co-host, Freddie Kraft, attempted to soften the blow, pointing out that the Open Exemption Provisional rule backfired. Instead of celebrating a legendary driver’s NASCAR debut, it left Castroneves in an embarrassing position. “It was the total opposite of what it was designed to do,” Kraft explained. “Instead of embracing this world-class driver and giving him a spot, everybody just ended up saying, ‘This guy sucks.’ But he’s still Helio Castroneves—he does not suck!”
Despite the harsh criticism, Wallace’s comments reflect a larger debate about the fairness and effectiveness of the OEP rule. While the idea was to bring outside talent into NASCAR’s biggest event, Castroneves’ experience exposed the challenges of jumping into stock cars without prior experience. It raises questions about whether more testing or preparation should be required before allowing a driver to compete at such a high level.
During the same podcast, Wallace also shared his thoughts on NASCAR’s short-track experiment at Bowman Gray Stadium, where the Clash took place. While the event had mixed reactions from fans, Wallace was a big supporter of the venue and suggested that NASCAR should consider hosting the All-Star Race there in the future.
“I wouldn’t mind that being the All-Star Race,” Wallace said. “When we go to Bowman Gray, and we know there’s nothing on the line, if you run into me, I’m going to be pissed at you the whole f*ing season. If it’s a million dollars on the line and I got wrecked for it, okay, sure. But no, it’s like, you throw everything at them, so you’re going to race him like an ahole the next ten weeks.”
Wallace’s comments highlight a growing concern in NASCAR: the aggressive nature of Next-Gen racing and its long-term impact on driver rivalries. The Next-Gen cars have made racing tighter and more physical, and many believe that the sanctioning body needs to manage the growing tension between drivers. If races at short tracks like Bowman Gray continue to encourage aggressive driving, it could lead to more conflicts spilling over into the regular season.
As the NASCAR community continues to digest Wallace’s remarks, one thing is clear—his candid takes keep the sport entertaining. Whether calling out an IndyCar legend or pushing for major changes to the schedule, Wallace remains one of the most outspoken voices in the garage. His comments may ruffle feathers, but they also spark important discussions about the direction of the sport.
For Castroneves, his Daytona 500 debut may not have gone as planned, but he remains a legend in the racing world. And as for Wallace, his brutally honest opinions ensure that he won’t be backing down from any controversy anytime soon.
