The aftermath of the recent Alex Bowman NASCAR Chicago incident took a surprising turn when Bubba Wallace and Bowman opted to put the heated on-track dispute behind them over dinner in California, turning the focus from rivalry to reconciliation. The two Cup Series drivers, who clashed in Chicago, cleared the air before the latest race weekend at Sonoma Raceway, showing sportsmanship in the face of competitive tension.
On-Track Incident Unfolds in Chicago
During last weekend’s NASCAR event, Bubba Wallace found himself sliding backwards down DuSable Lake Shore Drive in Chicago after contact initiated by Alex Bowman coming out of Turn 2. The pivotal moment was the result of a miscommunication and high-stakes battling for position as both drivers jostled for a top finish on the demanding Chicago Street Course. Wallace, piloting the No. 23 toyota/”>Toyota for 23XI Racing, later described what caused the error before Cup Series practice at Sonoma Raceway.
“For some reason, my perfectly working digital mirror wasn’t looked at,”
said Wallace.
“I didn’t look there and assumed that he was to my right. He was to my left. I was just getting back up to give him room for the bottom, and he was actually on the top. So I looked like an idiot.”
—Bubba Wallace, NASCAR Driver
What might have become a lasting feud was instead addressed quickly. The two drivers, competing as In-Season Challenge opponents, spoke after the race to resolve the situation. Wallace assured Bowman that no animosity lingered following their contact on the streets of Chicago.
Reconciliation Over Dinner in California
By the time the NASCAR field headed west to California for the next race, the narrative shifted away from conflict. Bubba Wallace treated Alex Bowman to dinner, solidifying their understanding and mutual respect after the incident. The unusual choice to bury the hatchet over a meal was not lost on either driver.
“We get to the hotel for dinner two nights ago now, and he’s waiting to get seated right in front of us,”
recalled Wallace.
“I just come up, give a big bear hug and told him again, ‘Hey, we’re good. Nothing’s wrong.’ And so the hotel we’re at, a lot of (NASCAR) industry people are there. My dinner was bought by somebody else, so I paid for Bowman’s dinner. It just kind of felt right.”
—Bubba Wallace, NASCAR Driver
Bowman reflected on the outcome as well, observing the reaction from the public and media following the incident and how things played out in their personal interaction.
“I think the media definitely wanted that to go in a direction that it didn’t go,”
Bowman said.
“Yeah, we talked after the race and I saw him the other night at dinner. I think we’re all good. Like, I certainly hate that he got wrecked. I don’t think that much contact was necessary in that situation. But I also understand that he’s trying to race for the bracket challenge and finish the best he can. Kind of is what it is. And he bought me dinner the other night, so we’re good. I’ll move on from it.”
—Alex Bowman, NASCAR Driver
The Impact on Playoff Hopes and Mindset
The sequence of events had consequences for Wallace’s standing in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs chase. The on-track collision, which cost him valuable positions, dropped him from contending for seventh to finishing 28th, five laps behind the leaders. The result left Wallace just two points above the cutoff in the tightly contested playoffs as NASCAR shifted focus to Sonoma Raceway.
“I was thinking about that, I was thinking about the In-Season [Challenge],”
Wallace said.
“Like, instead, at the end of the day, I gave up 20- something points, and look where I’m at: plus-two. So yeah, it’s just going through it. Like I felt like that was my debut race. Rookie mentality. And it was like, what the [expletive] are you doing?”
—Bubba Wallace, NASCAR Driver
The mental toll of the incident was not insignificant for Wallace. In prior seasons, a mistake of this magnitude might have followed him for days, but after the recent events, he found himself moving forward more quickly, showing personal growth in his approach to adversity and mistakes.
“To start, it was the same,”
Wallace said.
“Like Monday, Tuesday, I was pretty down — and mad at myself, right? And then like, oops — I made a mistake doing something else around the house. And it’s like the magnitude is different, but still, a mistake’s a mistake, so you just move on. It’s been fine the last couple days. But yeah, I would say it’d be totally different last year.”
—Bubba Wallace, NASCAR Driver
What Lies Ahead for Both Drivers
The swift resolution between Alex Bowman and Bubba Wallace after the NASCAR Chicago incident signals a positive move as both drivers vie for crucial playoff points. Both men, now with a clear understanding, will compete in the Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway with lingering tension set aside. The incident highlights the emotional stakes in motorsports, the intensity of driver rivalries, and the professionalism required to move forward. Fans and industry insiders will be closely watching Wallace, Bowman, and their fellow competitors as the battle for playoff positions continues to heat up on the road to the NASCAR Cup Series postseason.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Did Alex Bowman have a brain injury?
A. After winning, Bowman said on NBC, “I injured my back and had a brain injury, and we haven’t been performing well since.”
Q. Why did Alex Bowman fail his inspection?
A. A few hours following the race, NASCAR revealed that Bowman’s Chevrolet didn’t pass inspection due to a weight problem. In a social media video, Cup Series managing director Brad Moran explained that the No. 48 car didn’t meet the minimum weight requirements.
