"NASCAR does plan to talk to Chase Elliott" - Insider gives update on controversial move to exempt HMS driver from penalty for Suarez Chicago incident

NASCAR insider and journalist Bob Pockrass has provided an update on Chase Elliott's penalty exemption for an incident involving Daniel Suarez during the cool-down lap of the Chicago Street race. Many opined that Elliott should have received the same penalty as Bubba Wallace but NASCAR hasn't taken any official action yet.

23XI Racing driver Wallace spun out in the race during an early-stage incident with Alex Bowman. Wallace was aiming for a top-10 spot but eventually only managed a P13 finish. Bowman went on to secure his maiden win of the 2024 season.

Wallace, in a seeming fit of frustration, door-slammed Bowman after the checkered flag during the cool-down lap. Bowman, who had his window net down, hit the wall. NASCAR penalized Wallace for the incident and he was fined $50,000.

In another post-race incident, Hendrick's Elliott seemingly vented his frustration at #99 Suarez during the cool-down lap following a last-lap battle between the two for the top 15. Elliott got in front of Suarez and brake-checked him. Suarez also had his window net down and was forced to skew right. However, Suarez didn't hit the wall like #48 Bowman. NASCAR has so far not penalized the Hendrick Motorsports driver.

Fox Sports' Bob Pockrass claimed that NASCAR does plan to have a word with Elliott regarding this incident. Pockrass wrote on X (formerly Twitter):

"Also been told that NASCAR does plan to talk to Chase Elliott ... in-car footage shows that Bowman had to catch his car after Wallace contact (force of the contact apparently caused his hands to come off the steering wheel) while that didn't happen in the Elliott-Suarez contact."

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Another NASCAR insider weighed in on the Elliott-Suarez incident

During the Chicago race's last lap, Trackhouse Racing driver Daniel Suarez clipped #9 Elliott's Chevy, which led to the latter making a controversial move after the checkered flag. Elliott finished outside of the top 20 for the first time this season, whereas #99 Suarez managed to finish P11.

Renowned NASCAR analyst Jeff Gluck shared his thoughts on why he believes the Elliott-Suarez and Wallace-Bowman incidents differ. Gluck wrote on X:

"I’m getting tagged in this so guess I’ll wade in. This looks like Elliott chased him down, rubbed doors and brake-checked him. Yes? OK, well that’s different than putting someone into the wall, no? A lot of you are trying to make these the same incident and they’re not IMO."

The Grant Park 165 witnessed #48 Bowman clinch his maiden win of the season and a Cup Series playoff spot. He completed the roster of Hendrick's Chevy drivers set to compete in the championship run.