TMW: Bubba Wallace Suspended For Homestead
The two-time Cup Series winner will miss this weekend's race after his crash with Kyle Larson in Las Vegas.
The Morning Warmup
Oct. 19, 2022
Editor’s Note: Hey all! Apologies for being a bit late with this one - I overslept a bit and had to get into the day job.
Today’s Top Stories
1) Bubba Wallace suspended for run-in with Kyle Larson (NASCAR Cup)
NASCAR suspended Cup Series competitor Bubba Wallace one race for his wreck of Kyle Larson at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The sanctioning body announced Wallace’s suspension as part of Tuesday’s penalty report. No fines or point deductions were included. 23XI Racing put out a statement two hours later confirming John Hunter Nemechek as Wallace’s replacement while saying it was “aligned with NASCAR” on the decision.
“Bubba’s actions are not in keeping with the values of our team and partners,” the statement read. “We have spoken to Bubba and expressed our disapproval of how he handled the situation.”
The incident in question came during Stage 2 of Sunday’s race, where Larson initially slid up the track and forced Wallace into the outside wall at the exit of Turn 2. Wallace then appeared to turn left and hook Larson’s No. 5 Chevrolet into a spin back up the track, where he careened into playoff contender Christopher Bell before slamming into the outside wall.
All three drivers were knocked out of contention. Wallace then asked to Larson outside of his Chevrolet, yelled at the Californian and pushed him multiple times before walking away.
NASCAR chief operating officer Steve O’Donnell made an appearance on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio after the announcement, where he noted that the penalty was based solely on “what took place on the race track” and based on the data that led them to think “that was intentional and put other competitors at risk.”
“We’re confident in the data we have and why we made it (the decision),” he added. “We really had to react, and it’s an action we really don’t want to see going forward.”
Wallace is the first Cup Series driver to be suspended for an incident since Matt Kenseth in 2015. The last driver in any national series to be issued a suspension was Camping World Truck Series competitor Johnny Sauter in 2019.
That wasn’t the only penalty to come from Tuesday’s report. Kyle Busch’s time with crew chief Ben Beshore came to an unceremonious end as the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing team was penalized for a loose wheel during Sunday’s race. Beshore, jack man Derrell Edwards and tire changer Michael Hicks were suspended four races for the infraction, which will carry through February’s Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum. That means they’re done working with Busch, who will leave for Richard Childress Racing at season’s end.
Jeremy Clements’ No. 51 Xfinity Series team was issued an L1-level penalty for a violation of NASCAR Rule Book Section 14.4.B.E, which states that the “Flange Fit Composite Body must be used as supplied from the manufacturer without modification.”
Jeremy Clements Racing was docked 40 driver and owner points for the infraction. Crew chief Mark Setzer was fined $25,000 and suspended from Saturday’s race at Homestead.
Ty Gibbs’ Xfinity Series crew chief, Chris Gayle, was foment $5,000 for a loose lug nut in Las Vegas. Andrew Abbott was reinstated and deemed eligible to return to NASCAR activity.
(Source(s): Dustin Long / NBC Sports, 23XI Racing / Twitter, Mike Hembree / NBC Sports)
2) NASCAR reportedly introducing wet weather package for short ovals in 2023 (NASCAR Cup)
Ty Dillon has found a new home for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Spire Motorsports announced Tuesday that it will field two full-time drivers next year, bringing in Dillon for the No. 77 Chevrolet. He’ll compete alongside current full-time competitor Corey LaJoie, who will return to the No. 7 Chevrolet alongside crew chief Ryan Spark.
Spire has fielded the No. 77 Chevrolet with multiple drivers in 2022, primarily leaning on Josh Bilicki and Landon Cassill,
“There’s little doubt that we raised some eyebrows when we entered the sport as race team owners,” Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson said. “We knew that we needed to learn how to crawl before we attempted to walk and eventually run. We’ve been quite fortunate to build a strong foundation for Spire Motorsports over the past several years. That’s a testament to the people of Spire and Corey LaJoie, Ryan Sparks and Kevin Bellicourt have been the bedrock of this organization.
The next step in our progression is to add an equally capable full-time driver for the No. 77 team and we’ve found just that individual in Ty Dillon. Clearly, the path that T.J. (Puchyr, co-owner) and I have taken to be here today has been atypical”
Dillon will be competing in his second full-time season since returning from a partial schedule in all three national series The younger brother of four-time winner Austin Dillon, Ty has competed for Petty GMS Motorsports in 2022, though the entities announced July 15 that they would part ways at season’s end. Noah Gragson will take Dillon’s place in the No. 42 Chevrolet next season.
(Source(s): Bozi Tatarevic / Road and Track)
3) Techeetah out for 2023 FE season, planning return in ’24 (Formula E)
One of Formula E’s top teams will be missing from the first season of the all-electric tour’s Gen3 era.
The Race reported Tuesday that Techeetah will not compete in the 2023 Formula E season, though figures are “aiming to put together a package for a 2024 return.”
Techeetah rose from the former Team Aguri in the summer of 2016, with ownership from Chinese sports marketing company SECA. The squad has been in search of additional investment since 2019, but has been unable to do so.
Former manufacturer partner DS has shifted over to Dragon Penske, making a new shared entrant under the name DS Penske. Ex-DS Techeetah driver and two-time champ Jean-Eric Vergne will drive for the squad alongside defending champion Stoffel Vandoorne, who shifts over from the exiting Mercedes team.
More on Techeetah’s decision from The Race:
Two of the key figures in the management of the Techeetah operation, CEO Mark Preston and chief commercial officer, Keith Smout, have been attempting to secure investment and a future for the team in recent months.
The Race understands that Techeetah has spoken to several undisclosed manufacturers about a deal to race in 2024, after using 2023 to re-establish a team after the majority of its staff left to join the new DS Penske tie-up.
The licence with which the team raced in Formula E is still held by the Chinese owner, although technically should it not race in 2023 it would revert to Formula E Holdings.
This scenario though is complicated by the fact that the owner of the licence, SECA, is also an investor in the championship itself with its leader Sheng Li sitting on the board.
Recent meetings between Preston and potential investors and Formula E executives are believed to have been positive, although it remains to be seen if the licence will be allowed to remain effectively fallow for a year but be available to a revived operation created by Techeetah management.
Speaking to The Race about the present situation Preston said that he was confident the team’s “proven track record of success would attract the necessary package for a grid return in 2024”.
Techeetah’s exit leaves 11 teams for the 2023 ABB FIA Formula E championship.
(Source(s): Sam Smith / The Race)
News and Notes
NASCAR
Josh Berry will return for a second full Xfinity Series season at JR Motorsports in 2023. (Mike Hembree / NBC Sports)
Hattori Racing will part ways with Chase Purdy at the end of the 2022 Truck Series season. (Hattori Racing / Twitter)
Joey Logano didn’t hold back when asked about Bubba Wallace’s incident, noting the danger and risk to Kyle Larson’s life. (Mike Hembree / MBC Sports)
Analysis of Wallace’s penalty:
-How it compares to prior penalty decisions (and lack thereof). (Bob Pockrass / FOX Sports)
-Why it needs to be NASCAR’s new precedent. (Jordan Bianchi / The Athletic)
IndyCar
IndyCar has its hardcore fans, but the series may still be the best-kept secret in modern sports. Allow James Hinchcliffe to explain. (James Hinchcliffe / Road and Track)
Teenage prospect Josh Pierson will compete for HMD Motorsports with Dale Coyne Racing in Indy Lights next season. (IndyLights.com)
Indy Lights competitor Danial Frost impressed in an IndyCar test for Dale Coyne Racing. (Marshall Pruett / RACER)
The 2023 schedules for USF Pro 2000, USF2000 and USF Juniors have been released. (RACER)
F1
Mercedes seemed proud of its zero-sidepod concept for this season, but there are signs that the pods could come back in 2023. (Glenn Freeman / The Race)
Circuit of the Americas has been a mainstay for F1. Along the way it’s helped the series gain U.S. credibility. (Chris Medland / RACER)
Alpine believes it is :significantly up” on its 2023 car compared to its current machine. (Jonathan Noble & Jamie Klein / Motorsport)
Supercars
Garth Tander called himself “privileged” to see Shane van Gisbergen’s talent as an insider at Red Bull Ampol Racing. (Daniel Herrero / Speedcafe)
A new livery for James Golding will be showcased ahead of the Gold Coast 500. (Slade Perrins / Speedcafe)
The 2023 Supercars field is nearly complete. (Andrew van Leeuwen / Motorsport)
Sports Cars
Supercars legend Jamie Whincup will share a Mercedes-AMG GT3 with Prince Abu Bakar Ibrahim for a pair of upcoming Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia races. (Daniel Herrero / Speedcafe)
Kevin and Jan Magnussen will join forces again for the Gulf 12 Hours in December. (Daily Sportscar)
Nick Tandy is departing Corvette Racing after the FIA World Endurance Championship finale in Bahrain. (John Dagys / Sportscar365)
Corvette will welcome a different driver, Ben Keating. The veteran will switch from Aston Martin to the brand un 2023. (John Dagys / Sportscar365)
Porsche is in the midst of testing with its prospective LMDh entrant. Here’s a look at how things are going. (Richard S. James / RACER)
NOLA Motorsports Park’s GT World Challenge America data has been moved to accommodate the Intercontinental GT Challenge. (John Dagys / Sportscar365)
Dirt
Devin Moran is departing Tye Twang Racing heading into the 2023 season. (Tim Truex / FloRacing)
The KKM Giveback Classic is coming up at Port City Raceway this weekend. Here’s everything to know about it. (Brandon Paul / FloRacing)
Short Tracks
Brenden ‘Butterbean’ Queen and Brandon Pierce will race of Lee Pulliam Performance in 2023, with Queen chasing the CARS Tour crown. (Matt Weaver / Racing America)
Moto
Darryn Binder will lead Husqvarna’s first run in Moto2 next season as he steps down from MotoGP to compete for Intact GP. (Christina Bulpett / Bikesport News)
Suzuki MotoGP boss Livio Suppo is happy to see his team happy after a win in Austria - one that could be the squad’s last before the brand leaves the series. (Simon Patterson / The Race)
Other
Sam Bird was unhurt in a sizable crash during Formula E Gen3 testing at the Calafat circuit in Spain. (Sam Smith / The Race)
On Track Today
All Times ET
Dirt
Local Racing (Millbridge Speedway): 6:30 p.m., DirtVisio
Fast Fact
This has been Bubba Wallace’s best NASCAR season, at least statistically. He’s set new personal best marks in top-fives (5), top-10s (9), laps led (150) and average finish (18.5) while earning his first pole and second victory. The question now - will Sunday’s incident overshadow that, or will it lead to a better Wallace in 2023?
Special Thanks
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