Hendrick Motorsports driverAlex Bowman demonstrated extraordinary resilience at the Viva Mexico 250 in Mexico City, defying significant pain from a severe injury sustained just days earlier at Michigan. Though many doubted if he would race, Bowman pushed through discomfort on the challenging road course and secured an impressive fourth-place finish after starting 29th, showcasing his remarkable perseverance at the Mexico race.
Despite the injury making it difficult to move after impact, Bowman managed to compete at a high level. His effort was notable because the Viva Mexico 250’s twisting road course posed additional physical demands unlike the usual oval tracks he typically races on.
How Bowman Managed to Perform Amidst Physical Challenges
Bowman acknowledged that racing itself helped him cope with the pain. Speaking to FOX Sports, he said,
“I think running well probably made it easier than it could have been,”
—Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports driver. He revealed the severity of his condition, sharing that just days before the race he was unable to walk and missed important practice sessions and teammeetings.
“In full transparency, I couldn’t walk on Wednesday so I missed all my sim stuff, I missed all my meetings, just trying to get back going.”
Bowman also credited the support he received, which made it possible for him to complete every lap of the weekend’s event. His original goal was simply to finish all laps, but he exceeded that by securing a top-five result.
“(I) had a lot of help from a lot of people to fix whatever the hell was going on and thankfully enough, I was able to run all the laps this weekend. Honestly, my goal was just to come here and make all the laps and to end up with a top five. I’ll definitely take it.”
He indicated the race might have gone even better if a few factors had aligned differently, reflecting on tire management and overall pace.
Image of: Alex Bowman
“I wish I wouldn’t have burned the tires off it so bad at the end, but yeah we were pretty decent,”
—Alex Bowman.
Limited Sightseeing Due to Injury but Appreciation for Mexico
The Viva Mexico 250 marked Bowman’s first time competing outside the U.S., which allowed him to experience a new culture and different surroundings even though his ability to explore was restricted by his condition. Bowman expressed mixed feelings about his visit to Mexico City, wishing he could have enjoyed more of the vibrant city but acknowledging the challenges his injury presented.
“Certainly, this week has been a lot, and travel for this week has been a lot, just with what I had going on,”
he said.
“I wish I could have walked around the city more, enjoyed some of that more than I did because I just laid in a hotel bed all weekend.”
He also thanked his girlfriend, Chloe, for her support during the difficult week.
“But yeah, it’s a neat spot. I’ve got to thank my girlfriend Chloe for picking me up off the floor and getting me some help. It’s been a heck of a week.”
Looking Ahead to the Upcoming Race at Pocono Raceway
Following his remarkable performance and recovery efforts, Bowman will now focus on resting and preparing for the next NASCAR Cup Series event, scheduled at Pocono Raceway’s 2.5-mile tri-oval. Bowman has a strong history at Pocono, having won the race in 2021 and finished third last year, which positions him as a competitive contender for that upcoming Sunday’s race.
