NASCAR has issued a $50,000 fine to driver Bubba Wallace for retaliatory contact against race winner Alex Bowman during the cooldown lap of the Chicago Street Race. Wallace door-slammed Bowman's car, causing it to hit the wall. Bowman acknowledged that he had spun Wallace during the event and believed the retaliation was justified. Despite the incident, Bowman expressed understanding and empathy towards Wallace, stating that he would also be upset in a similar situation.
During the race, Bowman admitted to making multiple errors that led to the collision with Wallace. He explained that a chaotic restart, combined with technical issues in his car, caused him to miss a corner and collide with Wallace. Bowman expressed regret and self-criticism for his mistakes, acknowledging that he felt embarrassed and frustrated during the rain delay that followed the race.
Notably, Wallace's window net was down when he made contact with Bowman after the race, indicating the intensity of the incident. Video footage from inside Bowman's car captured the impact of the collision, showing the driver being visibly shaken by the hit.
In addition to Wallace's fine, NASCAR has announced plans to address the on-track contact between Chase Elliott and Daniel Suarez that occurred after the race. The organization is expected to investigate the incident further to ensure fair and safe competition among drivers.
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