NASCAR penalty likely following post-race altercation at Circuit of the Americas
Update: Daniel Suarez fined for retaliation in NASCAR race at COTA
On Sunday, the NASCAR Cup Series raced in Austin, Texas. The stock car racing series brought drama to the 20-turn Circuit of the Americas.
Watch the post race altercation video below.
On the second attempt in NASCAR Overtime, Daniel Suarez lined up on the third row inside lane. Behind him was Alex Bowman and Ross Chastain.
Chastain had a run on Bowman into turn one. He looked to the inside but Bowman quickly threw a block.
As they jumped on the brakes, Chastain leaned on the rear bumper of Bowman. Bowman was shoved into Suarez who then tagged Martin Truex Jr and turned Truex around.
It took another restart attempt in overtime to send Tyler Reddick to victory lane. And, after the checkered dropped, Daniel Suarez remained in the throttle…
COTA Race Results: March 26, 2023 (NASCAR Cup Series)
Daniel Suarez runs into Alex Bowman on the pit lane in post-race retaliation
As cars coasted back around to the pit lane, Suarez was aggressively racing by them like he was on a qualifying lap. On the cool down lap, Bowman passed most of the field, 23 cars.
He came up one car short of the bumper he was aiming for. As he entered the pit lane, Suarez was behind Ross Chastain. But, he wasn’t aiming for him, he was looking for Alex Bowman, just ahead of Chastain.
So, on the entry to the pit lane, Suarez leaned on the rear bumper of Chastain. With Chastain out of the way, Suarez finally caught the bumper of Bowman!
As they entered the pit lane, cars were being waved down by officials. Meanwhile, Suarez gave a shot to the rear bumper of Bowman. He stepped on the gas and gave him another shot.
NASCAR doesn’t typically issue penalties when drives show frustrations on the cool down lap. However, there is a line and when crossed, exceptions are made. Specifically, in relation to the safety of NASCAR officials.
Just last year, Ty Gibbs ran into Ty Dillon on the pit lane at Texas Motor Speedway. Gibbs was handed a $75,000 fine for the contact.
NASCAR issues $125,000 in fines to Byron, Gibbs after Texas
Suarez figures out he’s actually mad at Ross Chastain
Bowman reacted by brake checking Suarez on the pit lane, to the surprise of officials who watched on.
As the two drivers climbed from their machines, they met in the middle. Bowman was clearly saying that he was shoved into Suarez. Bowman then pointed at Ross Chastain, telling Suarez to go talk to him.
He did. Suarez walked one car back as Chastain was already parked behind him on the pit lane. Those two drivers had a heated conversation.
Much of the conversation isn’t audible in the video below but Chastain can be heard saying, “Don’t be all high and mighty.”
Denny Hamlin penalized after admitting to crashing Ross Chastain
The Restart Daniel Suarez was mad about
Daniel Suarez runs down Alex Bowman after the race
Daniel Suarez and Ross Chastain talk after COTA
Daniel Suarez retaliates on Michael McDowell at Sonoma; Video surfaces of post race talk
Links
Daniel Suarez | Ross Chastain | Alex Bowman | Circuit of the Americas | NASCAR
