Rick Hendrick’s decision to reorganize pit crews between Alex Bowman and Carson Hocevar has drawn attention after recent race performances revealed unexpected results. The swap, executed ahead of the Bristol night race, aimed to improve Bowman’s playoff prospects but instead highlighted the superior pit crew performance of Hocevar’s team. This contrast underscores the unpredictable effects of mid-season crew adjustments within Hendrick Motorsports.
Bozi Tatarevic shared updated pit stop averages on the social platform X, noting a slight edge for Hocevar’s No. 77 crew.
“The No. 48 pit crew has an average pit stop time of 11.1 seconds so far. The No. 77 pit crew has an average pit stop time of 10.9 seconds so far.”
—Bozi Tatarevic, Analyst
Before the change, Bowman’s team had been plagued by costly errors during critical playoff races, including a nearly 40-second delay at Darlington caused by loose pit-gun hoses and additional setbacks at Gateway due to a dropped jack and speeding penalties. Hendrick Motorsports hoped that transferring four pit crew members from Hocevar’s No. 77 to Bowman’s No. 48 might correct these issues and provide Bowman with the stability needed to advance in the playoffs.
The specific personnel moved were Daniel Bach as front changer, Rod Cox as rear changer, Jarius Morehead as tire carrier, and Cody French as jackman, while the fueler remained unchanged. However, despite the rearrangement, Hocevar’s pit crew — now including Donnie Tasser, Andrew Bridgeforth, Brandon Grier, Allen Holman, and Zico Pasut — maintained quicker average pit stops when compared to Bowman’s group, showing the change did not yield the expected benefits immediately.
Notably, this type of pit crew reshuffle is not unique to Hendrick’s team. Trackhouse Racing recently shifted Daniel Suarez’s jackman to Ross Chastain’s crew, yet for Hendrick Motorsports, the timing and results of this swap fell short of reversing Bowman’s downward trend.
Alex Bowman’s Playoff Hopes Dwindle Despite Crew Realignment
Alex Bowman entered the Bristol race understanding it was his final chance to remain in the NASCAR playoffs. Positioned 35 points below the cutline, Bowman needed either a victory or a strong finish to progress. Even with the newly configured pit crew, Bowman’s outcome fell short of that critical advancement.
Starting from the 15th spot on the grid, Bowman made steady gains, leading five laps and securing a third-place finish in Stage 2, signaling competitive pace. Ultimately, his race concluded with an eighth-place finish, leaving him 10 points shy of qualifying for the Round of 12. Bowman expressed mixed feelings after the race, stating,
“I think, I’m proud of the effort today. Certainly, we’ve never gone out in a first round. So that’s frustrating, but after the last two weeks, just top-10 and kind of being pointed in the right direction feels good. I mean, it’s easy to be frustrated but I feel like we did all we could today, and looking back on it, that’s kind of all you can ask for.”
—Alex Bowman, Driver
This elimination marked the first time Bowman failed to advance beyond the opening round of the postseason, amplifying frustration given that he entered the playoffs relying on consistent finishes rather than a race win. His performance at Bristol, despite improvements, was insufficient to overcome the earlier points deficit accrued before the crew adjustments.
Significance of the Pit Crew Performance in Hendrick’s Playoff Strategy
The disparity between the pit crew performances of Carson Hocevar and Alex Bowman following the personnel shuffle highlights the crucial role pit stops play in NASCAR playoff success. While Hendrick Motorsports hoped the reassignment would bolster Bowman’s chances, the data indicates the No. 77 team retained its edge in pit stop efficiency, maintaining times that contributed to Hocevar’s better track position during races.
For Hendrick Motorsports, this outcome suggests that simply exchanging crew members mid-playoffs may not guarantee immediate performance improvements. The intricate dynamics of teamwork, communication, and individual crew member synergy require more time to develop and influence race results effectively.
Looking forward, Hendrick Motorsports will need to evaluate the long-term impacts of such personnel moves as the playoffs continue, balancing the urgency to fix current issues against the necessity of building cohesive, consistent pit crews. For Bowman, the focus will likely shift toward regaining momentum and avoiding similar pitfalls in future seasons, while Hocevar’s team gains confidence from their demonstrated ability to maintain outstanding pit performances even after personnel changes.
