It’s been almost a whole week since Bubba Wallace’s incident with Alex Bowman in Chicago. After Alex Bowman hooked Bubba Wallace’s car at the street race, the 23XI Racing driver decided to take revenge. So during the cool-down lap, Wallace decided to go door-to-door with Bowman and shunt him into a wall. Luckily, Bowman emerged unscathed, despite the seatbelts being off.
Following the race, Alex Bowman spoke to the media to discuss the incident, where he apologized to Wallace for sabotaging his race. The race winner also issued a statement saying that he does not want the #23 driver to be penalized for what he did. Despite putting out this message, NASCAR fined Bubba Wallace for $50,000. Before heading into this weekend’s race, Bubba Wallace was asked by the media about his fine, and his answer will surprise you.
Why did Bubba Wallace shunt Alex Bowman in Chicago?
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Everyone wants to understand what Bubba Wallace was thinking when he decided to hit Bowman on the cooldown lap. So when the media got a hold of Wallace at Pocono, they asked him about the fine that he was charged. Wallace did not hesitate to paint the whole picture, as he said, “I think last week, if this were right now, I’d be pissed off and didn’t want to talk to you guys. And you know what? You roll with the punches. You roll with a $50,000 fine. You roll with the P26 qualifying spot. And it is what it is.”
Bubba Wallace on trying to be the person he wants to be, the pressures of the Cup level and why he reacted like he did last week at Chicago. pic.twitter.com/nfKO0xvpMi
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) July 13, 2024
Wallace then added, “You have another day to figure it out and go have fun. I pass a lot of cars, and that’s where my mind’s at. So penalties are penalties. I won’t be the last one to get one. We’ll see. I just have to move on.” However, when it came to explaining where the urge to shunt Bowman came from, the 23XI Racing driver said, “I try not to start too much shit, but I was just raised to end it. And I blame my dad. He is an eye-for-an-eye guy. He’s all about being fair and at all costs of being fair. You punch me in the face; I’m punching you in the face, and we shake hands after we’re even.” Thus, Bubba Wallace sarcastically blamed his father for a $50,000 loss after his uncontrolled anger earned NASCAR’s wrath.
Though it was said humorously, Wallace revealed that he isn’t one to let things go. The $50,000 fine does not seem to have bothered him as much as his P26 qualifying. Wallace has still not made it to the playoffs this year, and as they get closer, the driver needs to secure a win to make it through. Last week was not the best outcome for the #23 driver; however, there are six more races before the playoffs, and he will need to keep his head down and try to secure a win.
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What’s your perspective on:
Is Bubba Wallace's temper hurting his career more than helping it?
Have an interesting take?
Why was the $50,000 fine the best thing to happen to Bubba Wallace?
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Bubba Wallace views the $50,000 fine imposed on him after the Chicago Street Race incident with Alex Bowman as a moment for personal growth. Reflecting on the penalty, he described it as “probably the best thing to happen to me” because it forced him to confront his own behavior and mindset. Wallace explains that he has been “miserable for years” and has been carrying a persona he is not proud of. All that led to him feeling frustrated and overly focused on the wrong things.
Wallace recounted the incident that led to the fine, where Bowman’s mistake in wet conditions caused a collision, leading Wallace to strike back post-race. Despite his frustration with the race being disrupted, Wallace admitted his reaction was poorly timed and dangerous, as he said, “The window net was down, seat belts were off. Not an ideal situation.”
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This weekend at Pocono, Wallace is focusing on having fun and maintaining a positive attitude, even in the face of challenges like a difficult qualifying session. He is committed to “rolling with the punches” and finding joy in the sport again. Despite his P26 start, he is hoping that he will have a good race that will help him build momentum for a win in the upcoming races to be able to make it into the playoffs.
Debate
Is Bubba Wallace's temper hurting his career more than helping it?