NASCAR: Bubba Wallace penalized before Talladega race
By Asher Fair
Bubba Wallace is set to drop to the rear of the field ahead of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway, the YellaWood 500.
23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace qualified for Sunday afternoon’s NASCAR Cup Series round of 12 playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway in 27th place behind the wheel of his #45 Toyota, but he is set to start at the back.
Wallace is set to drop to the tail end of the inside lane ahead of this 188-lap YellaWood 500 around the four-turn, 2.66-mile (4.281-kilometer) high-banked Lincon, Alabama oval as a result of an engine change stemming from overheating issues. The penalty puts him 37th place in the 37-car field.
Two other drivers are set to drop to the tail end of the field before Sunday’s race, including teammate Ty Gibbs and Richard Childress Racing’s Tyler Reddick. Both drivers had been set to start ahead of Wallace, but on the outside lane.
Gibbs qualified in 10th place behind the wheel of his #23 Toyota after advancing to the second round of qualifying but not posting another lap time, and he is set to drop to the rear as a result of repairs to an oil leak. He is set to start in 36th.
Reddick qualified in eighth place behind the wheel of his #8 Chevrolet but is set to drop to the rear as a result of splitter damage sustained in a pit road incident with a NASCAR official during qualifying. He is set to start in 34th.
None of these three drivers are championship eligible, but Wallace’s #45 team is still in the running to win the owner championship.
Here is an updated starting lineup.
Starting Lineup
1st – Christopher Bell
2nd – Kyle Larson
3rd – Denny Hamlin
4th – Aric Almirola
5th – Chase Briscoe
6th – Ross Chastain
7th – Noah Gragson
8th – Erik Jones
9th – William Byron
10th – Daniel Suarez
11th – Joey Logano
12th – Chase Elliott
13th – Daniel Hemric
14th – Brad Keselowski
15th – Harrison Burton
16th – Austin Dillon
17th – Austin Cindric
18th – Martin Truex Jr.
19th – Ryan Blaney
20th – Kevin Harvick
21st – Justin Haley
22nd – Kyle Busch
23rd – Chris Buescher
24th – Cole Custer
25th – Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
26th – Ty Dillon
27th – Michael McDowell
28th – Corey LaJoie
29th – Justin Allgaier
30th – Todd Gilliland
31st – Landon Cassill
32nd – J.J. Yeley
33rd – B.J. McLeod
34th – Tyler Reddick
35th – Cody Ware
36th – Ty Gibbs
37th – Bubba Wallace
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The YellaWood 500 is set to be broadcast live on NBC from Talladega Superspeedway beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET this afternoon. Begin a free trial of FuboTV now if you have not already done so!