NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. expressed disappointment with Bubba Wallace for taking the blame for the crash involving Joey Logano at Texas Motor Speedway, describing it as merely a racing incident rather than something Wallace should shoulder responsibility for. The incident occurred on lap 172 when Wallace, driving on the outside lane with Logano closely behind, lost focus, made contact with the wall, slowed down, and then clipped Logano’s car, causing a significant wreck. Wallace later accepted responsibility for the crash, but Earnhardt Jr. was unimpressed, suggesting that it was just part of racing and not Wallace’s fault. He also noted that if it had been the “old Bubba Wallace,” he might have reacted more aggressively, but Wallace has shown maturity over the past two seasons.
Bubba Wallace’s spotter and friend, Freddie Kraft, shared his perspective on the incident during the Door Bumper Clear podcast. Kraft described the Texas race outcome as unfortunate and emblematic of the tough luck the 23XI Racing team has faced this season. Despite showing promising performance, their good runs often end in disappointing finishes due to incidents like this one. Kraft’s comments reflect the broader frustration within the team as they continue to struggle with bad luck, which has contributed to a two-year winless streak. The team is hopeful to turn things around in the remaining races of the season.
In the aftermath of the crash, Wallace spoke to the media from the infield care center, where he took full accountability for the incident. He explained that he was trying to give Logano room but ended up hitting the wall and causing chaos on the track. Wallace expressed regret for the impact on his team and others involved, but also highlighted the progress they had made during the weekend before the accident. Despite finishing a season-worst 33rd at Texas and slipping to 11th in the playoff standings, Wallace remains optimistic, pointing out that he has accumulated the most stage points among drivers without a win so far this season.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. also commented on Joey Logano’s aggressive behavior in related incidents, including a notable outburst at Talladega where Logano harshly criticized his teammate Austin Cindric over a racing mistake. Earnhardt Jr. found Logano’s language surprising and addressed it humorously on his podcast, noting that Logano is very emotional and outspoken on the track but generally a happy person off it. Logano has since reconciled with Cindric, putting the incident behind them.
Overall, the Texas crash involving Bubba Wallace and Joey Logano has sparked varied reactions within the NASCAR community. Wallace’s willingness to take blame contrasts with Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s view that it was a typical racing incident not warranting an apology. The 23XI Racing team continues to face challenges with consistency and luck, but remains focused on improving as the season progresses.
