Alex Bowman confronted renewed tension with Bubba Wallace during the Chicago Street Race on July 6, as their fierce battle reignited a rivalry Bowman believed had ended. The Hendrick Motorsports driver was repeatedly forced into the walls by Wallace, leading to a dramatic exchange late in the race that captured attention.
During a fight for seventh place near the race’s conclusion, Bowman and Wallace collided multiple times, with Wallace spinning out after their aggressive encounters. This confrontation echoed last year’s Chicago race, when Bowman wrecked Wallace, who then retaliated during the cool-down lap. In this event, the two faced each other again in Round 2 of the In-Season Challenge, where Bowman came in eighth and progressed to the next stage, while Wallace finished 28th, five laps behind.
Bowman Details the Physical On-Track Battle with Wallace
Reflecting on the collision-filled duel, Bowman expressed his surprise and frustration at the persistence of their conflict. He described how Wallace’s aggressive moves repeatedly pushed him into the walls, leaving Bowman helpless to avoid damage.
“I thought we had squashed our beef, but clearly we have not. So, yeah, I don’t know. I followed the 45, passed him, he ran me in the inside wall on eight. Still felt like I passed him clean. Then he absolutely just demolished me into 12. I gave it back a little bit into one and then he demolished me again into two, ran me in the outside wall and I’m just a pinball between him and the outside wall at that point.”
—Alex Bowman, NASCAR Driver
Bowman also suggested that Wallace’s aggressive driving may have been self-inflicted and questioned the reasoning behind it given Wallace’s tire disadvantage. Bowman stated he was focused on finishing as best as possible rather than escalating confrontations, questioning the purpose behind Wallace’s forceful driving.
“I get the In-Season tournament means a lot, but at that point I’m just trying to finish the best I can. I wasn’t really thinking about that. So, I don’t know if that’s what it was about or what, but unfortunately that happened,”
—Alex Bowman, NASCAR Driver
Spotter’s Outburst Highlights Heated Race Atmosphere
During the intense moments on track, Bowman’s spotter Kevin Hamlin vocally expressed his frustration over radio communications. His anger at Wallace’s repeated contact was apparent as he encouraged Bowman to stay focused while preparing for a physical battle on the course.
“Stay with it. We’re not playing nice with this motherf***er,”
—Kevin Hamlin, Alex Bowman’s Spotter
NASCAR reporter Steven Taranto shared this radio exchange on social media, highlighting the raw emotion behind the scenes. This candid reaction underscored the intensity of the on-track conflict between Bowman and Wallace.
Bowman’s Season Progress and Upcoming Challenge
Heading into the Chicago race, Bowman was defending his previous year’s win on this street circuit. His strong top-10 finish this time moved him two positions up in the driver standings, placing him tenth with 480 points. Meanwhile, his Hendrick Motorsports teammates William Byron, Chase Elliott, and Kyle Larson remained among the top three in the rankings. Bowman, however, is still hunting for his first victory this season and remains the only HMS driver yet to claim a win.
Looking ahead, Bowman is set to compete against Ty Dillon in Round 3 of the In-Season Challenge at Sonoma Raceway, another demanding road course that will test drivers’ skill and strategy. The outcome of that matchup could have important implications for Bowman’s effort to gain momentum this season and advance further in the tournament.