Dale Earnhardt Jr. Defends Bubba Wallace After Controversial Wreck At Darlington

Bubba Wallace drew his fair share of criticism for Sunday's wreck at Darlington, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. has come to the 23XI Racing driver's defense.

With four laps remaining in the Goodyear 400, Wallace made contact with Kyle Larson while coming out of Turn 2. As a result of Larson spinning out, the caution was throw, and Ryan Blaney, who had been in position to win, wound up struggling to get going off a final pit stop and finished fourth.

Even though Wallace apologetic over his team radio and in person when he spoke to Blaney, some thought he may have wrecked Larson on purpose to open the door for his 23XI boss, Denny Hamlin. Hamlin wound up taking home the checkered flag, with Blaney running fourth and Wallace 21st.

On his "Dale Jr. Download" podcast, Dale Earnhardt Jr. dismissed any idea that Wallace's collision with Larson was anything other than an unfortunate accident.

“Bubba spins Larson and you can see clearly as they’re exiting Turn 2, Larson just kind of powers down,” Earnhardt said, via On3. “I wonder why he did that? … I know [Reddick got into the wall], but that was so far in front of him. … I’m watching it and I’m like, ‘He’s a long ways back. I wonder why he powered down so hard.’ He just — middle of 1 and 2 kind of went by Bubba, so he knows Bubba is right on his right rear full steam. That was surprising. Everybody was like, ‘Oh, Bubba did it on purpose.’ But he did not.”