23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin does not plan to appeal the $50,000 fine issued to Bubba Wallace after last weekend's race on the streets of Chicago.
Wallace drove up to race-winner Alex Bowman after taking the checkered flag and door-slammed the No. 48, which sent the car into the wall. This was similar to another incident on the cooldown lap involving Chase Elliott and Daniel Suarez.
The difference, as Hamlin explained Saturday at Pocono, is that one happened on live TV. The other only became public due to in-car camera footage.
"It's a judgment call," Hamlin said about the penalty from NASCAR. "More than likely, we've seen these things happen in other sports where the camera's on you live, not a cutaway where you'd say 'Oh, by the way, this happened after the checkered,'
"I think it being live and everyone seeing it, probably caused a little more of a social media uproar which then they responded to that. I think from the team's standpoint, I don't believe there will be any appeals. It's a learning moment you try not to repeat."
Hamlin noted that he didn't weigh on Wallace's actions during the cooldown lap at Chicago. He said that these situations occur regularly in NASCAR.
Wallace, for his part, called the penalty "probably the best thing that's ever happened to him." He said that he let his frustrations get the best of him after the race in Chicago.
"I've been miserable for years, walking around with a persona I'm not proud of," Wallace told media members Saturday at Pocono. "I apologize. I need to apologize to a lot of people, especially those who are close to me."
Wallace also told media members that he received some "media training" after learning of his fine, courtesy of Kevin Harvick. The 2014 Cup champion told Wallace to show up to Pocono with a big smile on his face and be the most "fun-loving guy" he can be.
The 23XI Racing driver may not agree with the penalty, but he will choose to "roll with it" while trying to race his way into the 16-driver playoff field.