NASCAR Cup Series star opens up on 'beef' with rival after controversial wreck

Alex Bowman has opened up on a controversial moment near the end of Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race at Chicago, which saw him wreck Bubba Wallace.

Bowman was attempting to cut through the field on fresh tires in the final laps, but initially struggled to get past Wallace's incredibly aggressive defending.

READ MORE: NASCAR Results Today: Van Gisbergen wins classic in Chicago after wrecks galore

While the pair were fighting for position in the race, they were also up against one another in the In-Season Challenge this weekend, a possible motivational factor in Wallace's physical approach.

The 23XI Racing driver ended up hooked on the front of Bowman's car after yet another entanglement, getting spun off into the wall when the two cars disconnected down a long straight.

Bowman: Clearly Wallace beef still exists

Speaking to reporters after Sunday's street race, Bowman said: “I thought we had squashed our beef, but clearly we’ve not. I followed the 45 (Tyler Reddick) past him. He ran me into the inside wall in (Turn) 8. Still felt like I passed him clean. Then he absolutely just demolished me into (Turn) 12.

"I gave it back a little bit into 1, and then he demolished me again into 2, ran me into the outside wall and then I’m just a pinball between him and the outside wall at that point.

“Certainly not trying to crash anybody. I mean, I’d have to watch it back to be certain, but I felt like he did it to himself because I kept pinballing between him and the outside wall. Wasn’t the intention.”

Shane van Gisbergen took the race win in the Windy City, sweeping the Cup and Xfinity Series races for the weekend and earning himself some extra playoff points in the bargain.

READ MORE: TEN Cup Series drivers demoted by NASCAR at Chicago Street Race

Related

NASCAR Cup Series

Joey Logano calls for NASCAR to penalise Cup Series rival over wreck

• Today 02:00

NASCAR Cup Series

Chicago race produces massive upset as 23XI Racing star eliminated

• Today 00:00