NASCAR issued a $50,000 fine to Bubba Wallace for making contact with another car during the cool-down lap after the Cup Series race on the Chicago street course. Wallace door-slammed race winner Alex Bowman, who had earlier run into Wallace while trying to fix a malfunctioning windshield wiper. Wallace was the only driver fined following the race weekend.
During the cool-down lap, Chase Elliott also appeared to brake-check and tap the side of Daniel Suarez, who had spun him on the final lap in response to feeling roughed up during their battle for position late in the race. Despite this incident, NASCAR did not fine Elliott, as his contact was less aggressive compared to Wallace’s, which caused Bowman’s car to slightly lift and hit the wall.
The actions that took place after the race on the cool-down lap are considered less severe than if they had occurred during the race under caution when track safety vehicles could be present and the recipient could lose positions in the race. This is why Wallace and Elliott were fined but not issued a points penalty.
In a similar incident last year, NASCAR fined Suarez $50,000 for colliding with Bowman on pit road after a race. While drivers are advised to keep their seat belts on until they exit their cars after the race, it is common for them to unbuckle and lower window nets during the cool-down lap. Bowman took full responsibility for the Wallace incident and expressed that Wallace should not be penalized for the incident.
Bowman admitted fault for the incident, stating that he was preoccupied with trying to fix his windshield wiper during the cool-down lap. He missed a corner, locked all four tires, and slid into Wallace, ruining his day. Despite the mistake, Bowman believed that the contact was minimal and that Wallace did not deserve a penalty.
Bob Pockrass, a NASCAR reporter for FOX Sports, has covered motorsports for many years, including over 30 Daytona 500s. Pockrass has worked for ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine, and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. For more updates on the NASCAR Cup Series, follow your favorite teams and drivers to stay informed about upcoming games and news.
