At Bristol Motor Speedway on September 13, Alex Bowman showcased a remarkable effort in his pursuit of a NASCAR Cup Series playoff spot, despite facing significant challenges earlier in the race. Known for his tenacity, Bowman’s Bristol playoff push saw him advance impressively through the field late in the night race, fueled by a strategic advantage on fresh tires.
Starting far behind due to an earlier spin and a lap deficit, Bowman’s resilience put him into contention during the final laps. However, a late caution disrupted his momentum, ultimately preventing a breakthrough into the Round of 12.
Early Race Setbacks and the Battle to Return to Contention
Bowman’s night began under tough circumstances when he spun on lap 101, causing flat-spotted tires and relegating him to 27th place, a lap down. Missing stage points in the first segment made his playoff chances slim without a victory. However, after a wave-around got Bowman back on the lead lap, his crew capitalized on fresh tires to rapidly improve his position.
Within 40 laps, Bowman had climbed to sixth place, and by the end of the second stage, his Ally Chevrolet was running third, earning valuable stage points. Despite struggles with inconsistent car performance during green-flag runs, Bowman maintained a strong presence near the front for the majority of the race.
I think just kind of getting back on the right foot a little bit and not finishing 35th is a step in the right direction,
Bowman said following the event.
A top 10 with stage points is a solid day.
—Alex Bowman, NASCAR Driver
I thought our car when we had some green flag running was really good,
Bowman added.
It just cycled really poorly. I’d drive off into turn 1 and just hope to make the corner. For whatever reason, it just wouldn’t take off, and then after five laps or so it would go again.
—Alex Bowman, NASCAR Driver
Final Laps Strategy and Missed Chances Due to Late Caution
As the race neared its conclusion, Bowman was positioned second behind Carson Hocevar and closing in on the leader with a tire strategy that provided fresh Goodyear Eagles. Crew chief Blake Harris’s call to pit at 26 laps remaining gave Bowman an edge over many competitors wearing older tires.
Austin Cindric, just above Bowman on the playoff cutline, suffered a smoker on his No. 2 car, forcing him to make a pit stop, though he managed to rejoin only five laps down thanks to a swift pit crew effort.
We were pitted. The guys were ready,
Cindric remarked,
It was really well executed for something that tragic.
—Austin Cindric, NASCAR Driver
Bowman narrowed the points gap to just three behind Cindric with fewer than 45 laps remaining. Unfortunately, a caution with 12 laps to go forced Bowman to restart on older tires, diminishing his advantage and limiting his capacity to challenge for the win.
I ran really hard when we pitted with like 26 to go or whatever and obviously chewed those tires,
Bowman said, reflecting on his run.
The last restart was ugly,
he commented.
But yeah, good Ally Camaro compared to yesterday made some gains on it. Still have some gains we need to make in the final races.
—Alex Bowman, NASCAR Driver
Despite the setback, Bowman finished eighth, a result falling short of advancing but demonstrating marked improvement from earlier struggles.
Christopher Bell Secures Victory Amid Playoff Tensions
The Bristol night race was ultimately won by Christopher Bell, who held off the field during a challenging contest marked by multiple strategy shifts and tire wear. Bell managed his car under difficult conditions, dealing with older tires and debris late in the race.
I think everyone was pretty well prepared with the transfer of [points] information once I got back on track. With a with a scuff right front tire, old as hell, left side tires and an old right rear tire, I got a handle on the car and got all the fire extinguisher stuff burned off the tires,
Bell shared after his victory.
Implications for Bowman’s Playoff Hopes and Season Outlook
Although Alex Bowman’s solid run at Bristol was not enough to secure him a spot in the Round of 12, his performance brought optimism for the remainder of the season. Sitting 13th in the points standings heading into the New Hampshire Motor Speedway weekend, Bowman believes he can build on the progress shown.
Just got to keep digging, right?
he said.
There’s a lot of points we can still score. We can still finish way better than wherever we’re at in points right now.
—Alex Bowman, NASCAR Driver
With the race at Bristol highlighting both the potential of the No. 48 team and the challenges they still face, the focus turns to consistent improvements and strategic execution in upcoming events to secure a deeper playoff run.
