NASCAR executive will have a talk with Bubba Wallace after he threw liquid on Alex Bowman as he was being tended to by the medical staff
NASCAR feuds are expected. Placing 40 high powered cars on a race track and telling them to beat the other 39 is going to bring contact.
NASCAR is beyond giving fines to drivers for showing emotion. For the most part they understand when things happen after a race. It’s part of all sports.
But, a line was crossed on Sunday on the ROVAL at Charlotte Motor Speedway during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series event.
Alex Bowman was scheduled to start on the outside pole. After he wrecked in the last 30 seconds of final practice, he went to a backup car. That put the second fastest car, at the tail of the field.
On lap 1, Alex Bowman was on the charge. However, he wheel hopped into the back stretch chicane. No caution was flown and drivers were forced to detour around the spinning car.
Bubba Wallace was one of the cars that was forced to work around the spinning car. To avoid it, he had to blow through the chicane. That gave him a penalty.
Lap 40, Alex Bowman was on the bumper of Bubba Wallace. For several laps, Wallace stuck his middle finger out of the window as they went down the straights.
Alex Bowman gave warning over the radio, “If he doesn’t put that finger away, he’s going to get it.”
Lap 42, Bowman pushed Wallace into the backstretch chicane. He then worked to his outside as they came into turn three of the NASCAR oval.
Bowman then hooked a left and turned Wallace via his right rear quarter panel. Wallace went backwards up the banking and tagged the outside wall.
Bubba Wallace vs Alex Bowman
After the race
Alex Bowman had been sick for several days leading up to the race. He remained sick on the day of the race.
At the same time, it was 92 degrees. That was near record highs.
Bowman drove from the back of the field to 2nd. He grabbed a spot in the next round of the NASCAR Playoffs as a result.
But, he was worn out and ran out of water inside the cockpit. After the checkered flag, Bowman climbed from his car. He then sat on the ground against the numbers on his door.
The NASCAR medical team approached. They began diagnosing Alex Bowman.
Bubba Wallace climbed from his car on a mission. He walked to the car of Alex Bowman to have a chat. He gave up and tossed fluid in the face of Bowman as he sat on the ground.
Bubba Wallace later said: “Smooth move of playing the sick card so I couldn’t bust him in his mouth.”
Related: Alex Bowman and Bubba Wallace comment after ROVAL altercation
Steve O’Donnell on Bubba Wallace ROVAL confrontation
“I will say that I will be having a conversation with Bubba Wallace,” stated Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer to ‘The Morning Drive’ via SIRIUS XM NASCAR Radio.
He continued, “I think that really wasn’t classy, whatsoever. I understand that drivers have issues with each other during a race. We totally get that.”
“But, when a drivers on the ground being tended to by medical personnel, you need to be smarter than that.”
“We’ll have that conversation with Bubba. And we’ll see how that goes. Obviously, prior to Dover.”
More
Alex Bowman and Bubba Wallace comment after ROVAL altercation
Bubba Wallace tosses Gatorade in the face of Alex Bowman (Video)
ROVAL Race Results: September 29, 2019
Alex Bowman and Austin Dillon comment after contact at Richmond
Alex Bowman vs Austin Dillon at Richmond Raceway
Austin Dillon gets pumped when he hears the ‘silver spoon’ phrase
Kyle Busch vs Bubba Wallace at Watkins Glen
Links
Alex Bowman | Bubba Wallace | Charlotte Motor Speedway | NASCAR
