“I don’t see a $50,000 fine”: NASCAR veteran weighs in on Bubba Wallace’s aggressive tap on Alex Bowman at Chicago

Veteran NASCAR insider and former FOX Sports reporter Kenny Wallace has recently revealed his views on how NASCAR could deal with Bubba Wallace's payback move on Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman. The HMS icon emerged victorious in the rain-shortened Grant Park 165 on Sunday but not without an on-track exchange with the 23XI Racing driver.

Alex Bowman sent Bubba Wallace's 'Jujutsu Kaisen'-themed Toyota Camry into the wall on lap 25. Later in the race, as the entire field approached turn 12, Bubba Wallace retaliated by door-slamming the #48 speedster into the wall. Nevertheless, he finished 13th while Alex Bowman went on to secure a playoff spot alongside his other HMS teammates.

Kenny Wallace wasn't sure why Alex Bowman had nudged Bubba Wallace. However, he was sure that NASCAR would not let Bubba Wallace's move go unnoticed.

Nonetheless, the 60-year-old Missouri native opined that Bubba Wallace's maneuver was not as egregious as the one that the three-time Cup Series champion Tony Stewart pulled off on Jeff Gordon at Bristol Motor Speedway in the 2001 Food City 500.

Reflecting on the same, Kenny Wallace said (via his X handle),

"Bubba Wallace is going to be fined something. He was pissed, I guess Alex Bowman wrecked him earlier in the race and it's gonna be some type of fine and here's why. We watched this play out forever. When the race is over. It's over... Listen, NASCAR doesn't like any of that stuff going on when the race is over," he said [at 8:30].

"Could be a fine... I'm gonna say NASCAR is going to fine him $25000, but I don't see a $50,000 fine," he added [at 10:18]

Bubba Wallace needs to win to book a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs for the second consecutive year. Currently, he sits 15th in the Cup Series standings with 476 points to his credit.

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Alex Bowman revealed how he got into clipping Bubba Wallace's car

During a post-race interview with NBC, Alex Bowman acknowledged that it was his fault to have spun Bubba Wallace, who entered the race 52 points below the provisional playoff cutline. Alex Bowman was holding the final playoff spot at the time.

Recalling his initial contact with Wallace and revealing why he pushed the latter's machine, the Chevy star said,

"I have to apologize again to the 23 guys. I just messed up and was trying to get my windshield wiper on and missed a corner and ruined their whole day. I hate that and I’m still embarrassed by that."

While Alex Bowman apologized to Bubba Wallace and NASCAR deciding on what penalty could be handed off to the latter, the Cup Series regulars buckle up for the upcoming race at Pocono "The Tricky Triangle" Raceway on July 14. Fans can watch the race live from 2:30 pm (ET) onwards on NBC Sports and the USA Network. Radio updates will be available on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.