During the Grant Park 165 race in Chicago, NASCAR drivers Alex Bowman and Bubba Wallace reignited a fierce rivalry that dates back to last year, resulting in a collision that left fans divided. The incident, occurring late in the 75-lap event, saw Bowman and Wallace tangling multiple times in their battle for seventh place, drawing significant attention due to the tension between them.
Bowman, driving the No. 48 car and entering the race as the eighth seed in the in-season bracket tournament, held an advantage over ninth-seeded Wallace with fresher tires. On Lap 70, Bowman nudged Wallace as they exited Turn 2, causing Wallace’s 23XI Racing Toyota to spin down DuSable Lake Shore Drive. While Bowman avoided further damage and finished eighth, Wallace suffered a broken toe link, which dropped him to 28th place, five laps behind the leaders.
History of Rivalry Adds Context to the Latest Incident
This collision mirrored their confrontation from the previous Chicago race, where Bowman and Wallace’s conflict first emerged. Back then, Wallace was spun out after contact with Bowman but recovered to finish 13th. Bowman won that race, but the tussle continued off-track when Wallace slammed Bowman’s car on the cooldown lap, a move that led to a $50,000 penalty.
Fan Reactions Favor Bowman Amid Renewed Conflict
Following the latest altercation, fans weighed in strongly on social media. A clip of the incident shared by The Daily Downfords on X drew immediate responses, with many siding with Bowman. When asked whether Bowman should face suspension for the incident, the majority of fans dismissed the idea. One wrote,
“Not even close, Bubba squeezed him up.”
Another remarked,
“Only if you don’t like RACIN,”
while a third commented, “Nah, that’s hard racing.”
Bowman’s Post-Race Comments Reflect Lingering Frustrations
In his post-race interview, Bowman expressed his thoughts on the ongoing friction with Wallace, admitting that he believed their issues were resolved previously. He described a sequence where Tyler Reddick ran him into a wall, followed by aggressive encounters with Wallace. Bowman said,
“Still felt like I passed him clean, then he absolutely just demolished me into (Turn) 12. I gave it back a little bit into 1, and then he demolished me again into 2, ran me into the outside wall, and then I’m just a pinball between him and the outside wall at that point.”
—Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Driver
Although he did not place direct blame, Bowman suggested that Wallace’s aggressive driving triggered the series of collisions and ultimately led to Wallace’s spin.
Implications of the Incident for the Season and Driver Relations
The renewed conflict between Bowman and Wallace adds tension to an already heated NASCAR season, especially within the high-stakes in-season tournament format. With both drivers competing intensely for positioning, further clashes could impact their standings and relationships as the season progresses. Fans and teams alike will be watching closely to see if these on-track battles escalate or if the drivers can find a way to coexist without incident in future races.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Did Bubba Wallace ever win a race?
A. On October 26, 2013, Wallace became the first African-American to win in a NASCAR national series since 1963. He won the Camping World Truck Series Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway.
Q. Has Bubba Wallace won a race?
A. Wallace is the first Black driver to win a Cup Series race since Wendell Scott did it in 1963. This victory also marked the first win for a McDonald’s-sponsored car since Jimmy Spencer’s in 1994. On October 4, 2021, Wallace secured his first-ever Cup win at Talladega after rain cut the race short.
