Pit-road penalties mar Wallace’s NASCAR debut
Darrell Wallace Jr. had an eventful weekend at Pocono Raceway, to say the least.
Wallace made his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut Sunday, becoming the first African-American driver to compete in the premier series since Bill Lester in 2006.
That he was driving the iconic No. 43 Ford, made famous by seven-time champion Richard Petty, only added to the historic moment. But once the green flag flew in the Pocono 400, the adventure continued for Wallace.
He was assessed three pit-road speeding penalties, losing a lap, and finished 26th. After climbing out of his car at the race’s end, Wallace became lightheaded and fainted on pit road while talking to reporters. He was eventually taken to the infield care center, treated and released.
Wallace, nicknamed “Bubba,” pronounced himself fine after getting to the media center but was disappointed in his finish.
“Heck of a way to start my weekend and a heck of way to end it — passing out,” Wallace said. “It’s happened three times now where I’m very hard on myself and I’m ... just so mad I pass out. But I’m all good now.”
Wallace, 23, was driving for Aric Almirola, who broke his back in a crash at Kansas Speedway on May 13. When speaking to the media the following Friday, he said doctors told him to expect to miss eight to 12 weeks.
Wallace finished 11th in Saturday’s Xfinity Series race for Roush Fenway Racing, but RFR announced last week it was suspending operation of its No. 6 team after Saturday’s race because of sponsorship shortfalls. RFR will evaluate opportunities for Wallace to run other Xfinity races later this season.
Wallace has been competing for RFR since becoming a fulltime Xfinity driver in 2015, earning 30 top-10 finishes, including seven this season. He made his Xfinity Series debut in 2012 with Joe Gibbs Racing, earning three top-10s in four races that season. He raced two more times for JGR in 2014, earning another top-10.
Wallace raced full time in the Camping World Truck Series in 2013 and ’14 with Kyle Busch Motorsports. He scored the first of his five truck series wins in October 2013 at Martinsville Speedway, becoming the second African-American driver to win a NASCAR national level race. Wendell Scott was the first, earning a Cup series victory in 1963.