Veteran NASCAR insider and former FOX Sports reporter Kenny Wallace recently shared his views on how NASCAR will handle Bubba Wallace’s retaliation against Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman. The HMS icon took the win at the rain-shortened Grant Park 165 on Sunday, but not without a fistfight on the track with the 23XI Racing driver.
Alex Bowman crashed Bubba Wallace’s Jujutsu Kaisen themed Toyota Camry into the wall on lap 25. Later in the race, as the entire field approached turn 12, Bubba Wallace retaliated by slamming his No. 48 Speedster into the wall with his door. Despite this, he finished 13th while Alex Bowman qualified for the playoffs along with the rest of his HMS teammates. Kenny Wallace didn’t know why Alex Bowman pushed Bubba Wallace. But he was sure NASCAR wouldn’t let Bubba Wallace’s tactics go unnoticed.
Still, the 60-year-old Missouri native felt Bubba Wallace’s tactics weren’t as bad as three-time Cup Series champion Tony Stewart’s tactics against Jeff Gordon in the 2001 Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. With that in mind, Kenny Wallace (through his X-name) said:
“Bubba Wallace is going to have to pay a fine. He was furious. Maybe Alex Bowman wrecked him early in the race. There’s going to be some kind of fine. Here’s why.” We’ve seen this all along. When the race is over. It’s over…Look, NASCAR doesn’t like that to happen when the race is over,” he said [8:30] “There’s a possibility of a fine…NASCAR will fine him $25,000, but I don’t think there will be a $50,000 fine,” he added [10:01]
Bubba Wallace has to win to qualify for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs for the second year in a row. He currently sits 15th in the Cup Series with 476 points.
Alex Bowman revealed how he got into clipping Bubba Wallace’s car
In a post-race interview with NBC, Alex Bowman admitted that it was his fault for letting Bubba Wallace slip, who entered the race 52 points below the qualifying cutoff for the playoffs. At this point, Alex Bowman held the final playoff spot. The Chevrolet star recalled his first contact with Wallace and revealed why he put so much strain on his car. He said:
“I have to apologize again to the 23 boys. I screwed up, missed the corner trying to turn on the wipers, and ruined their day. I hate it and I’m still embarrassed about it.”
Alex Bowman apologized to Bubba Wallace and NASCAR, who had to decide what penalty to impose on the latter, while the Cup Series regulars are gearing up for the next race at Pocono “Tricky Triangle” Raceway on July 14. Fans can watch the race live on NBC Sports and USA Network beginning at 2:30 pm ET. Radio updates will be available on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
