Bubba Wallace’s season ended in disaster at the Southern Cookout 500 in Darlington, South Carolina. It was the sixth time in seven seasons that Wallace had failed to earn a spot in the postseason, prompting calls for major changes at his team, 23XI Racing, co-owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan.

Wallace entered the race needing a win to secure a playoff spot. Wallace showed great potential over the 325 laps, but ultimately was involved in a chaotic crash during Stage 3. Ty Gibbs, Josh Berry and Denny Hamlin all went three-wide, causing a chain reaction that led to multiple cars spinning and colliding, including Wallace’s. The aftermath ended Wallace’s playoff hopes and marked his third DNF of the year.

Reflecting on the incident, Wallace commented:

“We just got so tense there that we ended up stuck in traffic, in a place we hadn’t been all day. I got stuck in someone else’s mess.

“Unfortunately, I hate it for your guys, but hats off to 14 (Chase Briscoe). I thought I did something yesterday, but they outplayed us and showed up when it was game time.

“That’s pretty awesome, so congrats to them.”

Despite attempts to remain positive and appreciate Briscoe’s achievements, the disaster led to a polarised public reaction.

Many fans criticized Wallace for seemingly deflecting responsibility for the disaster, with one commenter sarcastically noting:

“Bubba crashed but it wasn’t his fault, what a surprise,” while another bluntly suggested:

“Get rid of him, MJ”

However, Wallace also received support from fans who appreciated his efforts and realized the unpredictable nature of racing.

“Bubba gave it his all. He got himself involved in something he didn’t do; things happen,” one supporter defended.

The incident is causing increased scrutiny for 23XI Racing, where Michael Jordan’s involvement and influence are widely recognized. The team had a mixed weekend, with Tyler Reddick winning his first regular-season Cup Series title — a historic first for Jordan’s NASCAR organization.

However, this success was overshadowed by the controversy surrounding Wallace’s accident and the perceived lack of recognition for Reddick’s triumph. A fan criticized Wallace for not recognizing Reddick’s victory, stating:

“This guy is so self-absorbed, he didn’t even congratulate Tyler Reddick for (narrowly) winning the regular-season championship.”

Wallace’s reaction to missing the playoffs was simply disappointing:

“… (I) I wasn’t good enough for 16th this year. I hate to say it, it hurts me to say it, but it wasn’t for lack of effort on the part of all of us in that 23-seater car. Good luck to 45 (Tyler Reddick) and I hope Toyota wins.”