Alex Bowman has endured a series of setbacks during the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, with pit road errors being the recurring problem at both Darlington and Gateway. Those struggles have left Bowman trailing 35 points below the cutline heading into the crucial Round of 16 finale at Bristol, making the upcoming race a must-win situation to keep his championship hopes alive.
After a disappointing 31st place finish at Darlington, which Bowman described as a
“sh*tty, unacceptable day on all fronts,”
the No. 48 team again fell short at Gateway with a 26th place result. Pit stops have been a major factor, including a particularly damaging 40-second pit stop at Darlington that severely impacted his track position. The ongoing pit road problems have cast doubt on Bowman’s ability to compete effectively moving forward.
Experts Weigh In on Bowman’s Dire Position
Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic explained the stakes clearly, emphasizing the urgency of Bowman’s situation.
“Bowman’s in a must-win position. Too many guys to hop, too many things have to happen. He’s in a must-win position,”
Bianchi said during The Teardown podcast. He also expressed deep skepticism about the No. 48 team’s pit performance:
“But I don’t think you can trust Alex Bowman and that team to have a complete race where they’re going to go out and win. … If you’re a fan of Alex Bowman and your driver is making a pit stop, do you have any confidence whatsoever that your driver is going to get off pit road without an incident? No.”
Jeff Gluck, also from The Athletic, echoed these concerns about Bowman’s chances at Bristol. He called a win “quite the long shot,” though he admitted it was not impossible:
“To think you’re going to go to the Bristol Night Race and win is quite the long shot,”
Gluck said.
“Is it impossible? No, but it’s going to be pretty tough.”
Major Staff Changes at Hendrick Motorsports to Improve Pit Performance
In response to these repeated errors, Hendrick Motorsports has implemented significant changes to Bowman’s team, especially concerning the pit crew. For Bristol, most members of the Spire Motorsports No. 77 pit crew will be reassigned to the No. 48 car, aiming to boost pit road efficiency.
The Spire No. 77 pit crew was the fastest Hendrick-trained group at Gateway and ranked third overall, in stark contrast to Bowman’s pit crew, which placed 28th. Since Spire leases its pit crew from Hendrick, the organization made the strategic decision to reallocate personnel in hopes of avoiding past mistakes and improving Bowman’s chances at the Bristol Night Race.
The Critical Need for Mistake-Free Racing at Bristol
Analysts stress that error-free performance is essential, particularly given the intense competition in this round of the playoffs. Bianchi said,
“This round is all about being mistake free — and really the playoffs are — but really this round especially because of the number of drivers that are in,”
adding,
“It’s about not making mistakes. It’s about letting your competition take a shotgun to their foot and blow it off and you’re just like, cool, dude, have a good day, peace out. Instead, the 48 team has taken multiple shotguns to their feet, and you can’t do that. It’s just about surviving and advancing and they’re not surviving and they’re not going to advance.”
With the stakes this high, a strong pit stop effort and flawless race execution at Bristol are indispensable if Bowman wants to advance to the Round of 12. Anything less would endanger his playoff campaign after a devastating two-week stretch riddled with costly mistakes.
Outlook for Bowman’s Bristol Night Race
Heading into the Bristol finale, Alex Bowman and his Hendrick Motorsports team face an uphill battle. The decision to overhaul the pit crew reflects the urgency to fix one of their biggest weaknesses. While experts remain doubtful about Bowman’s ability to overcome the pit road difficulties that have plagued him, the Bristol Night Race offers a last-chance opportunity to keep his championship hopes alive. Success on race day requires a near-perfect performance from Bowman and his crew to avoid further setbacks and secure a win.
