The NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs narrow down the field at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday night, where two drivers must secure a win to continue their championship bids. As the race reaches its full 500 laps, four drivers will be eliminated from contention, while the remaining competitors advance to the Round of 12. Among those in critical need of a victory are Alex Bowman and Josh Berry, each hoping to avoid elimination with a strong performance in this must-win setting.
Alex Bowman’s Struggles Highlighted by Pit Road Errors
Alex Bowman and his No. 48 Chevrolet team from Hendrick Motorsports currently find themselves 35 points below the Playoff Cutoff Line. Their results in the initial Playoff rounds at Darlington Raceway and World Wide Technology Raceway have been disappointing, primarily due to costly mistakes on pit road. These errors contributed to poor finishes of 31st and 26th place, respectively, putting Bowman in a challenging position heading to Bristol.
Reflecting on his team’s performance at World Wide Technology Raceway, Bowman said,
“It was just really poor execution on all angles today.”
He acknowledged that despite the struggles with pit stops, the car itself showed promising speed once they were able to run near the front. Bowman expressed frustration but remained determined, stating,
“Super frustrating, but all we can do is keep digging. There’s a lot of people working really hard to continue to be better.”
Looking ahead to Bristol, Bowman is focused on recovery and success, declaring,
“We just have to go to Bristol (Motor Speedway) and go to work.”
Starting 15th on the grid, he is committed to doing everything possible to secure a win and extend his run in the Playoffs.
Josh Berry’s Need for a Turnaround After Early Setbacks
Similar urgency surrounds Josh Berry and the No. 21 Ford Wood Brothers Racing team. Berry has delivered impressive qualifying results in the first two Playoff events, starting third at Darlington Raceway and 12th at World Wide Technology Raceway. Unfortunately, his races have been compromised by incidents beyond his control.
At Darlington, Berry spun out alone on the first lap, resulting in significant damage to his car. Although his team managed extensive repairs in the garage, he was forced to finish 38th, 128 laps behind the leaders. Their efforts at WWTR were again derailed when Berry crashed on Lap 36, leading to a last-place finish (36th). For the Bristol race, he will begin 10th, starting just outside Row 5, with hopes of capitalizing on a strong starting position.
Berry reflected on his recent challenges, sharing,
“It’s been disappointing to not get the results, but I feel like we’ve performed fairly well.”
He emphasized that both races had shown promise, noting the quality of their car and qualifying performances. Berry added,
“We got into it with the No. 9 (Chase Elliott) and I felt like each one of those could have been solid top 10s, which really would have been all we needed to be in a much better spot this weekend.”
While frustrated at the outcomes, Berry highlighted the progress made, stating,
“So, I’m frustrated with the results, but I think the performance has been there. I think we’ve done a good job. There’s always room for improvement, but there are still positives to take out of it.”
Implications for Playoff Survival and Future Races
The Bristol race represents a pivotal moment for both Bowman and Berry as they seek to maintain their place in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. A victory for either driver would secure advancement to the Round of 12, while failure to win may end their runs prematurely. Both drivers have shown potential in qualifying but must avoid mistakes and misfortune to capitalize on their opportunities.
With Bowman’s pit road issues and Berry’s recent crashes creating significant setbacks, their performances at Bristol will be closely watched by teams and fans alike. Success here could redefine their playoff campaigns and provide renewed momentum as the series advances deeper into the postseason competition.
