NASCAR exec explains decision not to penalize Noah Gragson for hitting Connor Zilisch under caution

Noah Gragson won't be penalized for hitting Connor Zilisch under caution in Sunday's Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis, but a stern conversation between the two drivers and NASCAR leadership in the NASCAR hauler is likely in the cards.

On the latest episode of "Hauler Talk," NASCAR vice president of racing communications Mike Forde talked through the decision not to penalize Gragson, who was upset with Zilisch after the latter pulled up in front of him on the racetrack as he came off of the pit road exit lane.

"Nothing as far as a penalty goes," Forde said. "But, and it's TBD if there's anything, period, but I imagine there will be. I did talk to Elton Sawyer prior to this taping and asked him that question. He's obviously aware and is going to talk to Brad Moran.

"If I was a betting man... I think there's a pretty good chance those two [Gragson and Zilisch] will be in the hauler [and] have a chat. I think that's of the tools we have in our belt to squash some potential bubbling-up of things that could get bigger than we'd like it to be."

NASCAR has already brought several drivers to the hauler for a chat in recent weeks. After run-ins at Chicagoland on July 5, Zane Smith and Carson Hocevar were summoned to the hauler, as were Shane van Gisbergen and Austin Hill.

What happened between Noah Gragson, Connor Zilisch

Gragson hit Zilisch multiple times under yellow to show his displeasure.

"Tell that f------ p---- in the 88 to quit f----- blocking," Gragson said over the radio after the incident.