JGR suspends Aric Almirola following physical confrontation with Bubba Wallace - Reports

NASCAR insider recently reported that part-time Xfinity Series driver Aric Almirola has been indefinitely suspended for a physical altercation with 23XI Racing driver Bubba Wallace. Almirola was last seen behind the wheel of #20 Toyota competing for Joe Gibbs Racing at Darlington Raceway on May 11.

As per The Athletic, #20 Almirola was the instigator of a physical altercation with #23 Toyota driver Wallace at a weekly competition meeting ahead of the Charlotte Xfinity race on May 25. JGR team, on May 22, decided to replace the 40-year-old's name from the entry list with Ty Gibbs, the full-time Cup Series driver for JGR.

According to the NASCAR insider, Almirola's suspension would be lifted and the #20 driver would be back at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Xfinity race on July 20. Here's what Jeff Gluck wrote on his X handle:

"News from @Jordan_Bianchi: Aric Almirola has been missing from Joe Gibbs Racing's Xfinity Series car because he was the instigator in a physical altercation with Bubba Wallace. His suspension will be lifted soon."

The report confirmed the rumors and speculations on social media that spread like wildfire after the Florida native Almirola was suddenly pulled from his part-time stint in the Xfinity Series. However, the reason behind this altercation between Almirola and Wallace is still unknown. This was the second time where Almirola was involved in an altercation with Wallace.

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Aric Almirola and Bubba Wallace were previously involved in a scuffle at Charlotte Motor Speedway

During the 2023 Coca-Cola 600 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Aric Almirola and Bubba Wallace were involved in a heating argument, which was caught on camera.

Almirola was previously involved in a physical confrontation with Wallace in the 2023 season. Almirola was seen pushing Wallace which was interrupted briefly.

Here's a look at the incident between Almirola and Wallace in Charlotte last year:

The former Stewart-Haas Racing Almirola hung his helmet full-time from the Cup Series at the end of the 2023 season. He had three wins in over 460 races in his Cup Series career.

Almirola currently competes part-time, piloting #20 Toyota for JGR in the Xfinity Series. So far, he has achieved one win, three top-fives, and three top-ten finishes after five starts in the 2023 Xfinity season.