Kyle Larson ‘dive bomb’ sends Bubba Wallace spinning during Chicago Street Race

At the time of the spin, it was a killer for Wallace. He had gotten up to 16th, and though the spin didn’t result in any contact, he fell to 32nd. But the Lap 29 caution was helpful. Now, Wallace is back up to 21st.

“Given our circumstances, I think this is about the best scenario we’ve got here. There is quite the mixture now,” crew chief Charles Denike said. “But we’re set up for the long run here; a bit of a stretch to make it, need some caution help, but we’ve got opportunities now.”

Wallace will keep digging. He also has his eye on what Alex Bowman is doing. The two are going head-to-head in Round 2 of the NASCAR In-Season Challenge, back at the scene of the crime, if you will. It was in last year’s Chicago Street Race when Wallace doored Bowman during the cool-down lap after the latter’s victory.

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

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.”

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.”