DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Darrell Wallace Jr. was fined $15,000 on Wednesday for a behavioral penalty issued following Friday night’s NASCAR XFINITY Series Subway Firecracker 250 at Daytona International Speedway.

Wallace was fined in accordance with Sections 12.1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12.8a (NASCAR membership and member conduct) and 12.8.1b (Potential penalties and details) of the NASCAR Rule Book.

The fine comes as a result of Wallace’s criticism of NASCAR on social media following the event, calling the officiating crew “muppets” on Twitter when expressing his displeasure with how the race ended.

Got the muppets up there officiating tonight! Never know how to react under pressure… Whatta joke

— Darrell Wallace Jr (@BubbaWallace) July 2, 2016

Friday’s race ended under caution after a multi-car crash on the backstretch, sparked by contact between Jeff Green and David Ragan racing inside the top 10, forced NASCAR to freeze the field exiting turn four as Aric Almirola and Justin Allgaier raced towards the checkered flag. A lengthy video review ensued before Almirola was ultimately declared the winner.

Wallace drives the No. 6 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing and sits ninth in series points, putting him in position to make the inaugural Chase Grid with 11 races to go before the cutoff at Chicagoland Speedway in September. He was scored 20th in the final rundown at Daytona.

In addition to the penalty assessed to Wallace, the No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing team of Sprint Cup Series driver Jamie McMurray received a written warning for failing the pre-race laser inspection system. The warning was their second accumulated written warning.

Once a team racks up four warnings, they lose their pit selection for the next applicable series race.

McMurray currently ranks 16th in season-long drivers’ points, and is only four points behind rookie Ryan Blaney for the final position on the Chase Grid.

All three NASCAR national series return to action this weekend at Kentucky Speedway, with a tripleheader slate from July 7-9.

About the Writer

Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network.

Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s.

The 22-year-old is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as the full-time tour announcer for the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.

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