CHICAGO — Bubba Wallace and Alex Bowman collided during Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Grant Park 165 at the Chicago Street Course, leading to a heated post-race confrontation. The on-track incident and subsequent argument underscored the high stakes for both drivers, who are battling for playoff spots with only eight races remaining in the regular season.
The race saw Shane van Gisbergen take his third career Cup Series victory. Ty Gibbs finished second, followed by Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Busch in the top five. Bowman crossed the line in eighth, while Wallace finished 28th, adding to a frustrating weekend. Michael McDowell won Stage 1, and Ryan Blaney claimed Stage 2 to pick up a massive playoff point for a driver not very strong on road courses.
On Lap 25, during a chaotic restart, Bowman’s No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet made contact with Wallace’s No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota. Bowman, distracted by a malfunctioning windshield wiper switch, locked all four tires and slid into Wallace, sending him spinning into the wall. The incident cost Bubba Wallace valuable track position, critical for both drivers’ playoff hopes. Bowman sits 39 points above the playoff cutline, while Wallace is 23 points above, with neither having secured a win this season—a necessity for a guaranteed postseason berth.
Wallace’s weekend was already marred by setbacks. During Saturday’s practice, he spun out, disrupting his preparation. Another spin in qualifying left him starting near the rear, compounding his challenges on a track where he showed speed last year.
Post-race, tensions erupted on pit road following the race, although they seemed to work the incident out.
The two have a history of on-track clashes, including a 2019 incident at Charlotte Roval where Bubba Wallace retaliated after a similar spin.
The Chicago Street Course, with its tight corners, intensified the rivalry. Van Gisbergen’s victory highlighted his road-course prowess, while the Wallace-Bowman incident underscored the pressure of the playoff chase. NASCAR is reviewing Wallace’s post-race actions, which could result in a fine, though Bowman has downplayed the need for penalties, as the two drivers did appear to solve their differences following the confrontation.
As the series moves to Sonoma, both drivers face mounting pressure to secure a win to lock in their playoff spots.
In case you missed it, social media went nuts Sunday morning for Nico Hülkenberg’s podium at Silverstone.
Wallace and Bowman had a heated exchange following the race, but did walk away looking to have solved their issues.
