Numerous NASCAR fans called on McDonald’s to drop their sponsorship of Bubba Wallace after he not only retaliated on the race track against Kyle Larson, but then proceeded to shove him after the two exited their vehicles.
Bubba Wallace via NASCAR YouTube
During the race, Larson had a big run going into Turn three and dove to the inside of both Wallace and Harvick. He was able to clear Harvick, but he then chased his car up the race track. However, he never made contact with Wallace.
Nevertheless, with Larson drifting up the track, Wallace was running out of room and eventually slammed hard into the outside wall coming out of turn four. After bouncing off the wall, he came down and bounced off Larson’s car.
After the contact, Larson dove down towards the infield and Wallace appears to chase him down the track and nails Larson’s car in the rear quarter panel sending him spinning up the track and into the outside wall. Wallace would also spin up the track and make hard contact with the outside wall.
RELATED: Report: NASCAR To Review Bubba Wallace’s Attack On Kyle Larson At Las Vegas
Following the wreck, Wallace exited his vehicle and walked towards Larson’s car. Upon arriving at Larson’s car, Wallace then began shoving Larson who never really fought back, but only attempted to keep Wallace at bay by extending his arms and giving him a slight shove back.
Wallace continued to shove Larson until a track official eventually broke the two up.
Bubba Wallace, Kyle Larson, and Kevin Harvick via NASCAR YouTube
The events are reportedly being reviewed by NASCAR albeit they did not call Wallace to the NASCAR hauler following the race.
Dustin Long of NBC Sports tweeted, “NASCAR states that they will review the entire incident between Bubba Wallace and Kyle Larson this week. NASCAR did NOT call Wallace to the hauler after the incident.”
Dustin Long Twitter
It’s unclear whether or not NASCAR will punish Wallace or not. Either way, NASCAR fans want one of Wallace’s top sponsors, McDonald’s, which also happened to be his main sponsor for the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to end their deal with him.
One user on Twitter wrote, “bubba wallace not only wrecked larson at high speed in a car with a questionable safety record, but he then proceeded to try and fight him.”
The user then questioned, “wonder how mcdonald’s and his other sponsors feel right now?”
CarnationBoi Twitter
RELATED: After Winning At Kansas Bubba Wallace Says He’s “Thankful To Shut The Hell Up For A Lot Of People”
Another user wrote, “I do not see how anyone could justify Bubba Wallace‘s actions. Just purely unacceptable. He needs to be suspended. McDonald’s needs to asses whether or not he is the right person to represent their brand in NASCAR. I used to fully support Bubba, I can not after witnessing that.”
likeliterally33 Twitter
One user call on a boycott of McDonald’s until Wallace’s sponsorship deal is cancelled.
The user wrote, “Boycott McDonald’s until Wallace is terminated!”
Tyrussian Twitter
Another wrote, “TBH, McDonald’s needs to chose another representative to carry the brand. Attacking one of the only Asian drivers in NASCAR is not a good look. Neither is putting your hand on an official.”
The user added, “NASCAR needs to give Bubba Wallace a significant suspension for his actions on Sunday.”
TBH, .@McDonald’s needs to choose another representative to carry the brand
Attacking one of the only Asian drivers in NASCAR is not a good look. Neither is putting your hand on an official
NASCAR needs to give Bubba Wallace a significant suspension for his actions on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/wDYx6r8nkJ
— 𝗥𝗢𝗗𝗥𝗜𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗭 (@rodriQuez) October 17, 2022
RELATED: Denny Hamlin On Bubba Wallace’s In-Car Radio Comments: “You Can’t Embarrass The Race Team”
“McDonald’s needs to drop Bubba Wallace IMMEDIATELY. BOYCOTT McDonald’s,” wrote another user.
clydegould61 Twitter
Still another wrote, “Sponsor money from McDonald’s helps Bubba Wallace be able to race. STOP EATING at McDonalds this is a way to protest the abhorrent behavior by Bubba Wallace yesterday.”
getinthegamebro Twitter
“McDonald’s should drop Wallace over this unsportsmanlike conduct. After a crash you go make sure the other driver is ok, you don’t assault him,” wrote another user.
Celtat Twitter
Wallace is one of the least popular drivers in the sport, with much of the disdain from fan’s stemming from Wallace accusing them of racism after he pushed the false claim that someone left a noose on his car at Talladega. In actuality it was a garage door pull.
He called the door pull a “despicable act of racism and hatred.” He posted to Twitter, “Today’s despicable act of racism and hatred leaves me incredibly saddened and serves as a painful reminder of how much further we have to go as a society and how persistent we must be in the fight against racism.”
“Over the last several weeks, I have been overwhelmed by the support from people across the NASCAR industry including other drivers and team members in the garage. Together, our sport has made a commitment to driving real change and championing a community that is accepting and welcoming of everyone. Nothing is more important and we will not be deterred by the reprehensible actions of those who seek to spread hate,” he said.
He concluded, “As my mother told me today, ‘They are just trying to scare you.’ This will not break me, I will not give in nor will I back down. I will continue to proudly stand for what I believe in.”
Bubba Wallace Twitter
When the claim was disproven, Wallace didn’t apologize for accusing fans of racism, he doubled down on his accusations.
Following an investigation into NASCAR and Wallace’s claims, the FBI concluded “after a thorough review of the facts and evidence surrounding this event, we have concluded that no federal crime was committed.”
They also detailed, “The FBI learned that garage number 4, where the noose was found, was assigned to Bubba Wallace last week. The investigation also revealed evidence, including authentic video confirmed by NASCAR, that the noose found in garage number 4 was in that garage as early as October 2019.”
“Although the noose is now known to have been in garage number 4 in 2019, nobody could have known Mr. Wallace would be assigned to garage number 4 last week,” they noted.
The noose was anything but a noose, it was a door pull. FBI spokesman Paul Daymond told CNN, “It’s my understanding that the rope was fashioned into a noose knot and used as a door pull.”
Door pull claimed to be a noose by Bubba Wallace and NASCAR
After the FBI concluded no crime was committed, Wallace embraced the hoax telling CNN’s Don Lemon, “I’m pissed. I’m mad because people are trying to test my character and the person that I am and my integrity. They’re not stealing that away from me, but they’re just trying to test it.”
He later told Lemon, “It was a noose. Whether tied in 2019 or whatever, it was a noose. So, it wasn’t directed at me but somebody tied a noose. That’s what I’m saying.”
He also posted to Twitter, “It’s been an emotional few days. First off, I want to say how relieved I am that the investigation revealed that this wasn’t what we feared it was. I want to thank my team, NASCAR, and the FBI for acting swiftly and treating this as a real threat.”
“I think we’ll gladly take a little embarrassment over what the alternatives could have been. Make no mistake, though some will try, this should not detract from the show of unity we had on Monday, and the progress we’ve made as a sport to be a more welcoming environment for all,” he concluded.
Bubba Wallace Twitter
Wallace has never apologized for his involvement in bracing the noose hoax. However, he has been rewarded for it. His off track activity was one of the key accomplishments touted as part of his contract extension announcement made by 23XI Racing earlier this year.
A press release detailed, “In addition to his on-track accomplishments, Wallace has also been involved in various diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts to expand the NASCAR industry and fan base.”
“Wallace has worked on initiatives such as the Dr Pepper 23XI Speed Institute Tuition Program, Embrace Home Loans’ Wider Path Home/23XI Racing Down Payment Assistance Grant and Bubba’s Block Party, which aims to bring the excitement of NASCAR to a younger, more diverse audience,” the press release added.
Bubba Wallace via NASCAR YouTube
What do you make of these fans calling for McDonald’s to end their sponsorship deal with Wallace? Do you think people will boycott McDonald’s if they don’t?