Alex Bowman, the Hendrick Motorsports driver, continues to seek his first triumph in the Alex Bowman NASCAR Cup Series this season. Despite strong performances that currently place him ninth in the points standings, Bowman’s chance at a victory slipped away again during Sunday’s race at Iowa Speedway due to an early pit road speeding penalty.
Starting 16th, Bowman finished seventh, an impressive recovery given the setback. While pleased with his team’s effort, he acknowledged that avoiding the speeding penalty might have positioned him for a better outcome, potentially even a win. Bowman noted that tire issues played a significant role late in the race, especially after a restart when his right-rear tire overheated, forcing him to focus on tire preservation rather than aggressive driving.
Reflecting on the challenge, Bowman explained the difficulty in managing tire performance under heat stress and admitted the pit road speeding was his own fault. He said,
“Once this tire seems to get hot, it seems like it just tanks and you can’t really get it back. I just tried to take care of it from then on. Honestly, I needed to just not speed on pit road early in the race. That hurt us, but it was a good day overcoming that.”
—Alex Bowman, Driver
Bowman’s Outlook as the NASCAR Cup Series Season Approaches Its Final Stretch
Currently holding a 63-point cushion above the playoff elimination threshold, Bowman faces three remaining races in the 2025 Cup Series regular season. His primary objective is to secure a win before the playoffs begin, with the next chance arriving at Watkins Glen International this coming Sunday. The track, however, presents a unique challenge, as Bowman’s best career finish there is only 14th place.
This added difficulty places pressure on Blake Harris, Bowman’s crew chief, to make strategic calls during the race. The No. 48 team will need to decide whether to play it safe by staying on the track to collect stage points or to take risks in pursuit of a win. Despite the obstacles, Bowman is prepared to confront the challenge head-on and aims to break through with a victory soon.
