Bubba Wallace had been running second in the closing stages of the Quaker State 400 when NASCAR officials intervened after he crossed the double yellow line on the final lap.
Wallace attempted to lift off the throttle to nullify any advantage, but a push from Ty Gibbs kept him moving forward, rendering his effort ineffective.
The penalty decision
The sanction dropped Wallace from second to 29th place, making him the final driver on the lead lap, while Christopher Bell was promoted to second.
NASCAR upheld the rule, emphasizing that a double yellow line violation is penalized regardless of intent, a stance that has reignited debate over the clarity of race‑control directives.
Team 23XI Racing, Wallace’s own organization, confirmed that the driver retains the right to appeal the penalty, a move that could influence how similar incidents are handled in future races.