Alex Bowman’s eighth-place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday marked the end of his pursuit for the Cup Series Championship, a disappointing outcome for the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports driver. Entering the race with a strong need to win after struggling performances in previous events, Bowman fell short despite showing some improvement during the weekend.
Challenging Weekend Following Earlier Struggles
Heading into Bristol, Bowman was under pressure after disappointing results at Darlington Raceway and World Wide Technology Raceway, where he finished 31st and 26th respectively. While his finish at Bristol was better than those previous outings, it still was not enough to keep his playoff hopes alive. Over the 500 laps, Bowman faced adversity, including a spin early in the race caused by Riley Herbst, but he managed to recover and lead much of Stage 2, ultimately finishing third in that segment.
Late-Race Decisions and Restart Setbacks
With 28 laps remaining, Bowman made his final pit stop, then fought back by gaining two laps on race leader Brad Keselowski. When a caution flag came out with 12 laps left, Bowman opted to stay out on older tires. During the final restart with four laps to go, Bowman started on the outside of the second row behind front-row starters Carson Hocevar and Zane Smith. Keselowski’s nudge at the restart pushed Bowman into the high groove, which caused him to lose several positions quickly and ultimately finish eighth.
Reflecting on the tire situation, Bowman admitted to reporters,
I think we were out of tires. So, what are you going to do? Put old tires on again? There wasn’t really much I could have done, or we could have done.
—Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports driver
Performance Concerns Amidst Strong Equipment
Bowman acknowledged that the poor tire situation made late-race success difficult, but it also highlighted ongoing concerns about his performance. Despite driving for a top-tier team with competitive cars, Bowman has not reached the playoff’s final eight since 2021. Meanwhile, each of his Hendrick Motorsports teammates has achieved three appearances in that stage during the same period, underscoring his relative struggles.
Implications for Bowman’s Future with Hendrick Motorsports
Being eliminated in the opening round of the playoffs is an unusually low benchmark for a Hendrick Motorsports driver and has reignited questions about Bowman’s place on the team. Rick Hendrick, the team owner, now faces difficult decisions about Bowman’s future, with speculation mounting over whether the driver will retain his seat or be replaced. The question of who could step into Bowman’s role remains a topic of intense discussion within the NASCAR community.
