Ryan Blaney Cites Bubba Wallace’s 2022 Controversy Over Dale Earnhardt Jr’s “NASCAR in a Tough Spot” Opinion

Ever since Denny Hamlin admitted to intentionally wrecking Ross Chastain earlier this year which ultimately led to NASCAR penalizing him, drivers have become quite careful of what they say and what they don’t say publicly whenever an incident on the track happens. This was the route that Chase Elliott also took after he wrecked Hamlin in Charlotte as the #9 driver didn’t exactly say much about what went through his head. Now, he was of course suspended for the following race at WWT Raceway, but if Dale Earnhardt Jr is to be believed, drivers, by not saying much, are putting NASCAR in a tricky place.

Junior recently mentioned this subject in a conversation with Ryan Blaney on his podcast show as he remarked how Elliott did “a good job” by not revealing too much in his interviews which is something everybody has learned nowadays, to not have “an admission of guilt”.

“I think this puts NASCAR in a tough spot,” Earnhardt Jr. claimed, to which Blaney not only agreed but also referenced a pretty controversial incident from last season as he touched upon the fact that everyone simply cannot be pleased no matter what.

Blaney on NASCAR’s similar spot as last year after the Wallace-Larson incident

Responding to Earnhardt Jr’s theory of NASCAR being in a tough spot because of drivers being coy about their intentions and so forth, Ryan Blaney admitted that it is a tough spot indeed for the governing body.

“You look at the deal last year with Bubba (Wallace) and (Kyle) Larson and what came out of that, and NASCAR had to make a decision on that. They’re kind of in a similar spot now where they have to make a decision,” he described. “No matter what they end up doing, people are gonna be upset. If they do something or if they don’t, people are gonna be upset.”

“So it’s just like whatever side of the fence you’re on, whoever you’re a fan of, you’ll agree with.”

Bubba Wallace Reacts to NASCAR Suspending Chase Elliott

Ahead of the race in Illinois last weekend, Wallace was asked about his thoughts on NASCAR handing Chase Elliott a one-race suspension for an incident that many thought wasn’t all that dissimilar to the one he was involved in last year at Las Vegas.

“They’re all about it. They’re finally putting their foot down on a lot of instances. It’s good. You need to stop letting the tail wag the dog,” Wallace replied.

Bubba Wallace reacts to the Chase Elliott suspension and the varying opinions on whether Elliott’s move was similar to Wallace’s last year. pic.twitter.com/90N9e4GAsA

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) June 3, 2023

Yet despite drivers understanding just how dangerous right rear hooking another driver at high speeds can be, such incidents have happened even after the Wallace incident.

So perhaps NASCAR might need to introduce a stricter penalty in these scenarios so drivers aren’t just punished for such incidents, but they’re also discouraged.