During a pre-race radio exchange before the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway on Saturday, confusion arose when Alex Bowman’s spotter, Kevin Hamlin, told Bowman he needed to start at the back for delaying the race start. Bowman qualified ninth, but the NBC Sports broadcast team mistakenly reported that Bowman was dropping to the rear of the field, not realizing that Hamlin was joking.
Hamlin’s true intent was revealed when he said,
“Yeah, I’m f*cking with you. All good,”
—Kevin Hamlin, Spotter. The broadcast initially missed this, prompting NBC play-by-play announcer Leigh Diffey to later correct the misinformation before the race began under the lights at Richmond.
Alex Bowman’s Position in NASCAR Playoffs Ahead of Richmond
Bowman’s reaction made clear the importance of track position on a demanding 300-mile race at Richmond. Sitting 60 points above the playoff cutoff and holding the 15th seed entering the race, Bowman still faces pressure as he has yet to secure a win this season. Performance at Richmond and the upcoming race at Daytona will be crucial for his postseason hopes.
Though Bowman has been consistent in gathering points throughout the season, Richmond has proven an unpredictable track for him. He acknowledged the challenges with mixed results at this venue in past years.
“You have to expect [a new winner] in the situation that we’re in,”
Bowman said.
“It’s three not-great racetracks for us. We’ve won at Richmond before, but we’ve been extremely hit-or-miss there over the years. We’re either really good or really bad every time that we’re there, so hopefully, we’re on the really good side of that. And Daytona, just got to put yourself in position to be there at the end.”
—Alex Bowman, NASCAR Driver
Context for Bowman’s Performance and Upcoming Challenges
Bowman’s ability to collect points has kept him steady in the playoff standings, but the pressure remains as the playoffs approach. Richmond Raceway’s track layout can amplify inconsistencies, and with Daytona following, strong performances are necessary to improve Bowman’s chances of advancing. The correction from NBC Sports helped clear up any misunderstanding about his starting position, allowing focus to remain on the competitive race ahead.
