NASCAR: Bubba Wallace okay after scary crash at Pocono

Bubba Wallace’s violent collision in the closing laps at Pocono Raceway was a sobering reminder of how dangerous stock car racing can still be.

As one of 13 drivers who failed post-qualifying inspection for the Gander Outdoors 400 at Pocono Raceway, Bubba Wallace was undoubtedly just hoping to bring his No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet home in one piece and complete the race without incident. He almost did that, but with less than 10 laps to go, he experienced misfortune that left everyone at the track holding their breath and hoping he was okay.

Heading down toward the end of the longest straightaway on the NASCAR Cup Series circuit, Wallace had trouble that sent him careening through the grass and then hard into the outside wall. It was a violent collision that totaled the car, even though it hit fairly flush on the passenger side door.

There was some tension as the seconds ticked by waiting for Wallace to drop the window net. He eventually did just that, flashing the crowd a thumbs up sign but needing to immediately take a seat on the racing surface.

While analyzing the replay, Dale Earnhardt Jr. noted how similar the wreck was to one that Jimmie Johnson suffered just last year. It also appeared that pieces of one of Wallace’s brake rotors came through the hood before he went into the grass.

Happily, word came from track officials once the race returned (briefly) to green flag racing that Wallace was checked out in the infield care center and released.

“I’m okay. That was a huge hit,” Wallace said to the NBC Sports crew, before continuing. “There’s no feeling like being helpless going of into turn 1.”

He even managed to crack a joke about the ultrasound finding “no twins.” It’s a testament to the continued advances in the sport that he wasn’t more seriously injured, but his incident should remind all NASCAR fans of the risks their heroes take every time they climb into their cars.