Bubba Wallace Doored Alex Bowman on Cool-Down Lap After Chicago

Incident details

• Wallace slams Bowman Chicago Street Race cooldown: Wallace slammed into Bowman's car on the cooldown lap after the Chicago Street Race, with Bowman's window net down
• Fine imposed: NASCAR fined Bubba Wallace $50,000 for the retaliatory contact against race winner Alex Bowman
• Earlier incident: Bowman had spun Wallace during the race, causing a chaotic restart and ruining Wallace's day
• Impact on Bowman: The contact jostled Bowman inside his car, and cameras showed he was visibly affected by the impact

Context and consequences

• NASCAR Chicago incident Wallace Bowman retaliation: Bowman won the race, while Wallace finished 13th after being spun earlier
• Playoff implications: The incident and potential penalty could seriously impact Wallace's playoff hopes, as he was 51 points behind Bowman and just outside the playoff cut line
• NASCAR's response: Officials planned to review the incident to determine if further action was needed
• Precedent: Similar unsportsmanlike conduct has resulted in point deductions and fines, such as Carson Hocevar being docked 25 points and fined $50,000 for deliberately spinning another driver under caution

Reactions and opinions

• Bowman's stance: Bowman stated the retaliation was warranted and advocated for Wallace not to be punished, saying he would be mad too if someone ruined his day
• Wallace's crew chief: Wallace's spotter, Freddie Kraft, agreed with Bowman that the incident shouldn't be penalized, calling it deserved and not a big deal
• NASCAR official's view: Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR's chief racing development officer, called Wallace's actions "really not classy whatsoever"

Historical context

• Previous feud: Wallace and Bowman have a history of on-track incidents, including a notable clash at the 2019 Bank of America Roval 400
• Past retaliation: In 2019, Wallace threw a bottled drink in Bowman's face after a race, following an intentional wreck by Bowman

FAQ

What happened between Bubba Wallace and Alex Bowman after the Chicago Street Race?

Bubba Wallace intentionally slammed into Alex Bowman's car during the cool-down lap after the Chicago Street Race, retaliating for an earlier incident where Bowman had spun Wallace during the race.

Why did Bubba Wallace door Alex Bowman on the cool-down lap?

Wallace was retaliating against Bowman for spinning him earlier in the race, which had ruined Wallace's day and caused a chaotic restart. The incident occurred while Bowman's window net was down.

What was NASCAR's response to the Wallace-Bowman incident in Chicago?

NASCAR fined Bubba Wallace $50,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct. Officials also planned to review the incident to determine if further action was needed.

How did the NASCAR Chicago incident between Wallace and Bowman affect their standings?

The incident and potential penalty could seriously impact Wallace's playoff hopes, as he was 51 points behind Bowman and just outside the playoff cut line at the time of the incident.

Has there been previous tension between Bubba Wallace and Alex Bowman?

Yes, Wallace and Bowman have a history of on-track incidents, including a notable clash at the 2019 Bank of America Roval 400 where Wallace threw a bottled drink in Bowman's face after a race, following an intentional wreck by Bowman.