Bubba Wallace, Alex Bowman engage in 'trash talk' ahead of NASCAR tournament matchup at Chicago

Bubba Wallace vs. Alex Bowman is one of the more anticipated matchups in Round 2 of the NASCAR In-Season Tournament. It was in last year’s Chicago Street Race when Wallace doored Bowman during the cool-down lap after the latter’s victory.

One year later, here they are going head-to-head in the race for $1 million. Ahead of Sunday’s race, Wallace and Bowman took a walk together with Marty Snider of TNT. With both drivers starting from the rear of the field due to unapproved adjustments, Snider asked Wallace if they would take it easy on each other early in the race. Wallace reminded him that Bowman “wrecked the hell” out of him to win last year’s Chicago Street Race, and he doesn’t believe they are even.

“Ask Alex what he did last year. He wrecked the hell out of me to win the race,” Wallace said. “A door slam — we’re not even, so I hope he knows that. $50,000 versus $1 million — pennies.”

Bubba Wallace, Alex Bowman starting from rear in Sunday’s Chicago Street Race

At first, it seemed as if Wallace was being serious. Bowman then revealed the two had lunch on Thursday “and opened an Ally savings account.”

“We went to McDonald’s on Thursday and opened an Ally savings account,” Bowman said. “I don’t know, I thought we were doing all the right things to become friends again and now, we’re back to this. Not really quite sure what to do with my hands, but we’re here and I crashed yesterday, so hopefully, I don’t crash today. If it rains, I know how to turn my windshield wiper on, and we’ll go from there.”

This was a friendly exchange. Whether or not it stays friendly on the racetrack is another question. But when it comes to cool-down lap antics, Wallace might want to steer clear. NASCAR fined him $50,000 for last year’s incident.

Both have work to do coming from the back of the pack. It will be interesting to see how often they remain next to each other throughout the race.