Just three laps in, Carson Hocevar tagged the wall exiting Turn 10, spun across Michigan Avenue, and collected several cars, triggering a red flag to clear the debris and ensure safety on the tight urban circuit .
Joey Logano vs. Ross Chastain
A restart with 13 laps to go saw Austin Cindricâs contact send Kyle Larson and Joey Logano spinning into Ross Chastain. Logano, believing Chastain retaliated intentionally, unleashed on the radio:
âRoss ⊠better get the fâing information right before he goes and wrecks somebody ⊠That motherfâer.â
Post-race, Logano confronted Chastain on pit road, claiming Chastain âadmitted he wrecked me on purpose,â and demanded a fine. Logano added, âTypical Ross. He just sees red and does dumb stuff.â
Bowman vs. Wallace: A Heated Finale
Late in the race, Alex Bowman and Bubba Wallace engaged in a fierce battle for a top-10 finish. Bowman rode Wallace into Turn 12 before pinballing into the wall. Wallace retaliated off Turn 2, spinning Bowman and leaving both wrecked .
Bowman later told reporters,
âI wasnât expecting that⊠we just pinâballed off each other.â
Wallace ended the day in 28th with a broken toe link, while Bowman salvaged eighth .
The Winner Amidst the Drama
Despite the turbulence behind him, Shane van Gisbergen delivered yet another masterclassâwinning both the Xfinity race and the Cup race from pole. He claimed his second Chicago Cup victory and became the winningest foreign-born driver in NASCAR history .
Looking Ahead
NASCAR will review communications and footage to determine if fines or penalties are warranted for Logano, Chastain, Bowman, or Wallace. The street raceâs future in Chicago is uncertainâwith the three-year contract nearing its end. NASCAR is rumored to be exploring a San Diego alternative, though discussions remain open with Chicago officials . Next up is Sonoma Racewayâa road course where tempers are likely to flare anew.
đ Final Word
Between the carnage at Michigan Avenue, radio tirades, and pit-lane confrontations, Sundayâs Grant Park 165 will be remembered as one of the most heatedâand chaoticâevents in street-course history. Whether NASCAR takes disciplinary action remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: these rivalries are far from cooling down.
