Controversial NASCAR penalty hands Bubba Wallace brutal blow at Atlanta

23XI Racing star Bubba Wallace was dealt a brutal blow after the finish at EchoPark Speedway on Sunday when he was hit with a NASCAR penalty.

Wallace finished second on the track in Sunday's Quaker State 400, just missing out on taking the win, with Ryan Blaney having pipped him to the line in overtime.

However, in the end, Wallace would be classified 29th after being shown the black flag and demoted to the last car on the lead lap.

NASCAR deemed that the 23XI star had broken the double yellow line rule, which dictates that drivers cannot go below the painted lines on the apron at superspeedways, including Atlanta, to advance their position.

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Bubba Wallace argues against NASCAR penalty

Post-race, however, Wallace was adamant that the penalty was unjust, arguing that he had not gained any speed or positions from dipping below the line.

"It says advancing your position, which I did not do,” Wallace stated to FOX Sports' Bob Pockrass post-race. “I stayed third and I was all over the brakes to make sure I did not advance.

"As soon as I turned, I was like, ‘I am going to wreck.’ I got on the brakes, kept it underneath me and still ended up side-by-side.

“That move should have propelled us to the lead and it didn’t because I knew it was wrong because my car did not like that move. We will see what we can do, but I did not advance my position. I stayed third from the entry to three, all the way until 50 yards away, #54 [Ty Gibbs] gave us a shot.”

Despite Wallace's protests, NASCAR later confirmed that the penalty would stand, with the 23XI star officially classified 29th for the race.