According to Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoff driver Kyle Larson, Darrell Wallace Jr. spun intentionally to bring out a caution during the AAA at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday, so Wallace could have a flat tire changed under caution instead of under green-flag conditions. The accusation is the second such accusation in as many races.
Wallace spun with a flat tire on lap 242 of the 334-lap race at Texas, bringing out the caution. Larson detailed why Wallace's spin looked suspicious.
“Well, that was very obvious,” Larson said. “The 43 [Wallace] was spinning on purpose. I mean, he turned right and then left to spin out. So when it’s blatant, that obvious, I think it’s pretty easy for them to notice it and make a call on it.”
The caution for Wallace's spin came during a cycle of green-flag pit stops. Larson had already pitted under green, giving up a position inside the top-five. Caught a lap down by Wallace's spin, Larson took a wave-around to get back on the lead lap but restarted the race in the 15th position. He failed to get back inside the top-10, finishing 12th.
After the Texas race, Larson was seventh in the standings among the eight drivers remaining in the playoffs. Four drivers will be eliminated after the Nov. 10 race at ISM Raceway.
Wallace finished 24th at Texas, three laps down. NASCAR declined to penalize Wallace for the incident, opting not to attempt to determine his intent. Larson, though, said Wallace's intent was so obvious that "Helen Keller could've seen that."
After the Oct. 27 race at Martinsville Speedway, NASCAR championship driver-turned-broadcaster Dale Jarrett accused another playoff driver, Joey Logano of spinning intentionall to bring out a caution. After contact from Denny Hamlin, Logano suffered a flat tire and spun in the final 50 laps, bringing out a yellow flag. As a result, Logano was able to remain on the lead lap instead of pitting under green and going a lap down.
