NASCAR driver Wallace loses sponsor after quitting eNASCAR race

After using up his two fast-repair "resets" in the first 10 laps of Sunday's eNASCAR race at a virtual Bristol Motor Speedway, Wallace got involved in a third incident with Clint Bowyer that caused his car extensive damage.

Wallace elected to quit immediately rather than drive the remainder of the 150-lap event with a damaged vehicle while out of contention for the win.

"Y'all have a good one," he said on his Twitch livestream before turning it off.

"That's why I don't take this shit serious. Peace out!"

Later on Sunday, Wallace posted a message on his Twitter feed after he had read comments - many of them disparaging - about his early departure from the race.

He wrote: "Bahaha I'm dying at my mentions right now... I ruined so many peoples day by quitting... a video game... Bahaha.

"A video game. Damn, quarantine life is rough."

But pain-relief brand Blue Emu, which sponsored Wallace and Landon Cassill in the eNASCAR race and has had a relationship with Wallace's Richard Petty Motorsports squad since 2005, responded with its own Twitter message.

The company, also the title sponsor of the spring Cup Series race at Martinsville, announced it would end Wallace's backing.

The tweet read: "GTK [good to know] where you stand. Bye bye Bubba. We're interested in drivers, not quitters."

A spokesperson for RPM said the organisation had no official comment to make on the matter.

NASCAR drivers are not paid to participate in the virtual races and then is no prize money on offer, but some sponsorship agreements are made between drivers and the sponsors directly, while others go through the teams.