NASCAR’s Aric Almirola suspended after altercation with Bubba Wallace

Aric Almirola has been suspended from Joe Gibbs Racing and his NASCAR Xfinity Series duties since May due to a physical altercation between himself and Bubba Wallace according to a report in The Athletic.

Almirola, the long-time Cup Series veteran who stepped away from full-time racing at the end of last season to spend more time with his family, subsequently joined Joe Gibbs Racing to run a part-time schedule and mentor the young drivers within the company.

He won the last race he competed for the team in its No. 20 car. That win came at Martinsville Speedway, on April 6.

Almirola was scheduled to race again on May 25 at Charlotte Motor Speedway but was removed after the altercation occurred during a weekly competition meeting that featured all the drivers under the Toyota umbrella, both Gibbs and 23XI Racing, which Wallace drives for.

No details have yet emerged from the conflict. It is understood that Almirola was viewed as the aggressor, thus resulting in the team issuing the suspension.

Almirola is expected to return to the team in time to compete in the July 20 Xfinity Series race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. During his absence, Ty Gibbs and John Hunter Nemechek have spent time in the car for races Almirola was scheduled for.

More must-reads:

• Kyle Larson did not mince words with his NASCAR spotter at New Hampshire
• Chase Briscoe on why his NASCAR career is ‘probably over’ if he doesn’t win with Gibbs
• Will Joe Gibbs Racing bring back its flagship NASCAR Cup Series number?