Aric Almirola refuses to comment on Bubba Wallace altercation

Aric Almirola declined to go into the specifics of his late May scuffle with Bubba Wallace that resulted in the former's suspension by Joe Gibbs Racing. While he expressed respect for the role of journalists, he chose to stay mum on the incident.

A report in June from The Athletic detailed that the altercation took place during a competition meeting among Toyota drivers before the race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May. Wallace is a full-time competitor in the NASCAR Cup Series for 23XI Racing, while Almirola races part-time in the Xfinity Series under Joe Gibbs Racing.

The report inclined toward Aric Almirola being the instigator in the conflict and as a result, the 40-year-old had not raced since the incident due to a team-imposed suspension. Joe Gibbs Racing did not respond to requests for a comment on the matter and a spokesperson from Toyota Racing also chose to remain silent. When Bubba Wallace was asked about the same at Nashville Superspeedway, he opted to avoid delving into the specifics as well. Wallace remarked (via RACER):

“They don’t want me to get into details to keep some people’s images good. I think I said enough at Charlotte last year, so all in all, life is good for me."

Almirola made his comeback in the team's #20 car at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway race on July 20, finishing third in his first Xfinity race since Darlington. Journalist Bob Pockrass questioned him about the altercation. Aric Almirola responded:

"No Bob. I totally appreciate that you guys are doing your job as journalists and I respect that 100% but I have no comment."

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Aric Almirola and Bubba Wallace's feud isn't something new

Bubba Wallace stepped into NASCAR Cup Series racing in 2017, filling in for Aric Almirola at Pocono Raceway and driving the No. 43 Ford for Richard Petty Motorsports as Almirola recovered from a back injury. Since then, their relationship has taken a rocky turn, accentuated by a heated exchange during last season's Coca-Cola 600.

During a rain delay at that race, Almirola and Wallace were caught in a shoving match on pit road. The confrontation escalated when Almirola confronted Wallace for allegedly making offensive gestures at him while they jostled for position on the track. Almirola had accused Wallace of "mouthing off and cussing" at the moment. Wallace retorted by branding Aric Almirola 'two-faced.'

It would be interesting to see if either driver decides to open up about the incident and what exactly sparked their dispute in the first place this year.