When Ty Gibbs arrived at Charlotte Motor Speedway, on May 25, and took over the #20 Joe Gibbs Racing challenger for the Xfinity race, fans were left baffled. While the official statement from JGR implied that the replacement was a ‘team decision,’ many believed there was more than met the eye. Fast-forward to the end of June, and veteran insider Jordan Bianchi shed light on the mystery.
Following an altercation with 23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace during a TRD briefing, Aric Almirola was reported to have been suspended ‘indefinitely’ for being the aggressor. However, as per recent reports, the suspension is soon to come to an end in July. But just when you thought Coach Gibbs already had a lot on his plate, a JGR hauler truck had a run-in with the law en route to Nashville.
A series of unfortunate events: The Joe Gibbs Racing edition
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Joe Gibbs Racing may still be one of the most dominant teams in the Cup Series, but Lady Luck just doesn’t seem to be favoring the Coach’s side off-track lately. Starting with Martin Truex Jr.’s retirement, JGR has been facing a string of dilemmas ever since. A while later, Christopher Bell leaked the news of ‘Chase’ (Briscoe) signing to the #19, prompting JGR to go into damage control with media briefings. And shortly after, one of the team’s motorhomes went ablaze at New Hampshire Motor Speedway post-midnight.
With all the cards falling out of Coach Gibbs’ hands, the last thing he needed was for fans to catch wind of the #20 JGR hauler truck getting pulled over. Taking to Reddit, a keen observer shared with the community; “Saw a hauler get pulled over on I-40 near Knoxville.”
In the attached photo, a black hauler with Toyota Racing Development branding and the #20 in the Joe Gibbs Racing font was spotted parked on the shoulder. Right behind the hauler, what appeared to be a State Trooper in an unmarked SUV could be seen walking toward the hauler.
What’s your reaction? Is the infamous image of NASCAR haulers justified? React! Reactions
Through the years, NASCAR haulers have gained notoriety for exceeding the usually 55-mile-an-hour speed limit. With fans consistently stating that these haulers drive above 80 miles an hour on their way to the next race, speeding could have been a likely reason for the traffic stop. Not long ago, a Stewart-Haas Racing hauler was involved in a highway accident. More similar news has made its way to the mainstream in the recent past, and hence, the infamous image for haulers.
That being said, what caught the eyes of NASCAR fans more so was the fact that the hauler belonged to Aric Almirola’s Xfinity garage. Naturally, one could hardly gauge the sheer number of ‘Bubba Wallace vs Aric Almirola’ jokes that came from the encounter.
Fans pull no punches against Aric Almirola and JGR’s misery
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After the fan shared the post on Reddit alongside the image, a majority of the community immediately connected the Hauler being pulled over to Almirola’s indefinite suspension. After all, the recent revelation by Jordan Bianchi had split fans for and against Almirola, with many believing that Bubba Wallace was truly innocent this time around.
Similarly, a hilarious Redditor also felt that the State patrol may also be secretive 23XI Racing fans. One user joked, “Trooper must be a Bubba (Wallace) fan,” whereas another mimicked the Trooper with their script, “Hey, just a quick question. Is the rumor true one of your drivers punched Bubba?” It seems like Aric Almirola won’t be off the hook with ease. Other users also chimed in, “Bro wanted info on the Almirola suspension”
This caused one Redditor to take the banter one step further with their wordplay; “Troopers indefinitely suspended the hauler for a little bit.” Although not much was revealed surrounding Bubba Wallace and Aric Almirola’s altercation, it’s safe to say animosity between the two had been brewing for a while.
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After being reported to be the instigator, the former SHR driver’s image as a driver who steers clear of altercations and fights has changed for many. A user commented, “Almirola wanted to fight again”. Still, some fans of the veteran tried their best to defend the #20 driver; “My man Almirola did NOTHING wrong!:”
Looking at how Aric Almirola just can’t catch a break, do you think fans are perhaps being too harsh on the veteran? Or has the run-in with Bubba Wallace truly changed his reputation?