Alex Bowman and Bubba Wallace’s Strange Road Course Rivalry
It happened again: Alex Bowman and Bubba Wallace tangled together at a road course! The two drivers in question are total opposites in reputation, making it even weirder. Wallace is known for his aggressive driving, reckless attitude, and outspoken nature. Bowman is known for being boring on track and off!
Why Do These Two Keep Crashing At Road Courses?
The 2025 rendition of the Chicago Street Race was the most recent incident between the two. The rivalry started back in 2018. He started the race hot and got Wallace heated. Tempers would boil over with Bubba. Bowman started it as he got into the back of Wallace on lap 1. It continued with a Lap 42 crash that saw Bowman push Wallace down the backstretch before intentionally wrecking him after the chicane and before the oval turn.
Even before that, on Lap 40, Bowman was all over Wallace’s bumper. So Wallace stuck his middle finger out the window multiple times, driving the whole place with one hand. This is to give him full credit, which is very impressive, but that only got Bowman angrier. “If he doesn’t put that finger away, he’s going to get one,” he radioed. That was what led to the Lap 42 incident.
After that, Bowman climbed through the field despite harsh conditions. He completed his comeback despite everything, driving back up to finish 2nd. After the race, it was what put Bowman’s name in the headlines everywhere. He climbed from his car. He was too exhausted to celebrate making it to the next round of the playoffs. He instead sat on the ground against the door of the No. 88 car, having battled the hot and humid day with an illness. The NASCAR medical team was also present, doing their job.
That’s when Wallace, at his most angry, charged toward the driver and yelled at him before splashing the water bottle Bowman was drinking from in his face. You would think Wallace would be more empathetic after facing dehydration issues of his own, but we all have our low moments. He happened to be captured on TV.
Things Have Cooled Down In Recent Years
But then NASCAR’s newest road course happened. 2024 would be another road triumph for Bowman, this time winning the shortened event for his only win of 2024, but he didn’t do it without getting his hands dirty. The No. 48 bulldozed Wallace into the Chi-town barriers, almost taking himself out in the process. Wallace went full Sukuna when he ruined Bowman’s victory celebration, hitting the No. 48 on its door. A gesture of his frustration that cost him $50,000.
Then We Come To the 2025 Chicago Street Course!
Bowman thought their beef was squashed, but he couldn’t have been more wrong, as the final 10 laps proved. When the two smacked into each other so often, it stopped being a NASCAR battle and became a Beyblade battle. Starting with Wallace slamming into Bowman’s door and ending when the No. 48 hooked Wallace, spinning him out and ruining his day. Once again, it was settled on the track but not off it, with Wallace confronting the driver post-race. This rivalry does show the maturation of Wallace over the years.
Final Thoughts
It was a big improvement for Wallace over throwing water in his face or smashing into his car after the checkered flag. Crew guys and Bowman made sure nothing got out of hand. This third chapter in the rivalry was, by all means, the calmest chapter and could well be the last one.
