Calls Mount Against Bubba Wallace After Chicago Penalty Drama
Drama and racing go hand-in-hand in the NASCAR Cup Series, and this weekend’s Chicago Street Race was no exception. What began as a chaotic battle for position ended in controversy, and it’s Bubba Wallace at the center once again.
In the aftermath of the Grant Park 165, Wallace was fined $50,000 after an on-track dust-up with Alex Bowman. The clash occurred late in the race and carried shades of a long-standing rivalry between the two that’s been simmering since last season. On the cooldown lap, Wallace rammed Bowman’s car. An aggressive move that quickly caught NASCAR’s attention.
NASCAR History Repeat
NASCAR has precedent when it comes to punishing intentional contact. But back in 2011, Kyle Busch was suspended for wrecking Ron Hornaday Jr. on purpose. More recently, Chase Elliott and Austin Dillon also saw serious penalties for crossing the line in high-stakes moments.
So now fans are asking: Should Bubba Wallace face the same?
In-car footage showed Bowman brushing Wallace’s right rear. A contact that sent the No. 23 car spinning. But was it intentional? Bowman denies it, saying, “I thought we had squashed the beef… I didn’t mean to spin him out.” Many fans agreed, calling it “just hard racing.”
One Reddit user added:
“That wasn’t a hook at all. Just two guys beating each other up until one went too far.”
Others pointed to similar incidents, like Kyle Larson vs. Chris Buescher at Kansas or Joey Logano vs. Kyle Busch at the Coliseum, where no penalties were issued.
What Happens Next
Furthermore, with no playoff waiver available under current NASCAR rules, any suspension or points deduction could ruin playoff hopes. Officials now face a tough decision: enforce a harsh penalty to maintain precedent, or treat this as another racing incident and move on.
Fans are watching closely. NASCAR’s call here could set the tone for how aggressive battles are handled the rest of the season.
Read More: The 10 Most Tragic NASCAR Accidents We’ll Never Forget
