NASCAR Veterans Advise Bubba Wallace to Channel Dale Earnhardt Sr. After Martinsville Wreck

Veteran drivers say Wallace must focus on finishing races, not winning, to climb back up the standings after a late-race incident at Martinsville Speedway.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 2:33pm

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Bubba Wallace, driver of the No. 23 Toyota for 23XI Racing, finished 36th at the Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2026 after a late-race incident with Carson Hocevar triggered a 12-car crash. Following the race, veteran NASCAR voices like Rick Mast and Kevin Harvick discussed the incident and advised Wallace to emulate the cerebral, smart approach of the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. to focus on finishing races and climbing back up the standings.

Why it matters

Wallace's poor finish at Martinsville has dropped him to 11th in the NASCAR Cup Series standings after starting the season near the top alongside his teammate Tyler Reddick. Veteran drivers say Wallace must adjust his mindset to prioritize consistent finishes over aggressive driving in order to regain his position in the points race.

The details

The incident began on a late restart when Hocevar pushed Wallace three-wide into Turn 1, putting him in a tight position. As the drivers reached Turn 4, Wallace made contact with Hocevar's rear bumper, spinning him and triggering a 12-car crash that ended Wallace's race. Wallace later said the move came from frustration and described it as a misjudgment.

  • The incident occurred during the Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2026.
  • Wallace's poor finish at Martinsville has dropped him to 11th in the NASCAR Cup Series standings.

The players

Bubba Wallace

The driver of the No. 23 Toyota for 23XI Racing who finished 36th at Martinsville Speedway after a late-race incident.

Carson Hocevar

The driver whose contact with Wallace triggered the 12-car crash at Martinsville.

Rick Mast

A NASCAR veteran who discussed the incident on his podcast and pointed to Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s cerebral, smart approach as a model for Wallace.

Kevin Harvick

A veteran NASCAR driver who discussed the moment and explained what led to the contact between Wallace and Hocevar.

Tyler Reddick

Wallace's teammate at 23XI Racing who was running near the top of the standings alongside Wallace early in the season.

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What they’re saying

“One of the best that was Earnhardt Sr. I mean, he was one of the best cerebral, you know, smart.”

— Rick Mast, NASCAR Veteran

“The way the points are structured, now you know you can't worry about winning a race again and getting in, you got to worry about finishing the race...it's just a matter of getting his mind right.”

— Rick Mast, NASCAR Veteran

“Bubba got riled up because Carson put him three wide on a restart and put him in a bad spot, and Bubba didn't like that.”

— Kevin Harvick, NASCAR Driver

“I've lost my temper a bunch of times at Martinsville and probably done stuff like this too.”

— Kevin Harvick, NASCAR Driver

What’s next

The NASCAR Cup Series heads next to Bristol Motor Speedway, where Wallace and his team will prepare for another short-track race where track position is key. Wallace and his team have reviewed the Martinsville race as they prepare for the next event.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the importance for drivers like Bubba Wallace to maintain a calm, cerebral approach focused on consistent finishes rather than aggressive driving in pursuit of wins. Emulating the mindset of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Sr. could help Wallace climb back up the standings after this setback.