WATCH: Kyle Larson admits his deliberate attempt to retaliate spun Bubba Wallace on the final lap of LA Clash

Bubba Wallace and Kyle Larson are fierce rivals on the track despite having a good relationship off the track.

WATCH: Kyle Larson admits his deliberate attempt to retaliate spun Bubba Wallace on the final lap of LA Clash

Bubba Wallace and Kyle Larson (Via IMAGO)

The 2024 NASCAR season was kicked off early with the LA Clash at the Colosseum but was postponed amidst the threat of heavy rain in Los Angeles. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin won the event held by RCR’s Kyle Busch. It was arguably the best race the temporary 0.25-mile track has seen since the inaugural event in 2022.

The race was filled with dramatic moments on and off track, such as the Joey Logano–Ty Gibbs off-track confrontation and Tyler Reddick–Ross Chastain clash. One such event was when 2021 Cup champion Kyle Larson spun Bubba Wallace on the race’s final lap. The HMS driver took him out of the top 10, and Wallace finished at P12.

While discussing it after the race, Larson admitted that the incident wasn’t an accident and that his deliberate attempt to shove Wallace to the wall caused the spin. He pointed out that Wallace had been tough on the whole race and shoved him multiple times during the event. Larson wanted to retaliate before the checkered flag, and he did exactly that.  

I haven’t seen any replays from the last restart, but he got me again and then got me again in the next corner. I think at that point that was three times to my none, so I wanted to get him back before the checkered. I wasn’t trying to spin him out or anything; I was just trying to shove him through the corner like he was doing to me, and he ended up going around. Product of this racing and finally reaching my limit, I guess, but yeah, just how it goes.
Larson told Frontstretch.

Bubba Wallace was awarded a P12 finish despite finishing the race

After the race, Wallace, who got spun out, was awarded a P12 finish. But unknown to many, as it didn’t feature in the Fox Sports race coverage, Wallace didn’t finish the race. After getting spun, he drove straight to the tunnel instead of returning to the track to finish the race.

Bubba Wallace and Kyle Larson
Bubba Wallace and Kyle Larson (Credits: Daytona Beach News Journal)

Wallace later shared this incident with fans via X (formerly Twitter) posting: “But how I finish 12th, and I ain’t even finish the race. Got spun and just went up the tunnel.” He also shared a Stephen A Smith gif with it.

The finishing position at the LA Clash does not mean anything if they aren’t among the top-3 drivers, as it could yield them a payday. The rest of the grid is fighting for a good finish that could give them good momentum ahead of the upcoming Daytona 500.

Discover: