Bowman’s Struggles Continue as NASCAR Postseason Gets Critical
World Wide Technology Raceway, September 10, 2023 – Alex Bowman and the No. 48 team faced significant challenges during the Enjoy Illinois 300, finishing 26th and falling deeper below the playoff cutoff line. Following the race, Bowman expressed frustration, stating, “We’re just not doing anything right at all… It’s kind of dumb.”
Bowman’s woes began with a lackluster start, qualifying 25th after sliding up the track. Despite climbing to 18th by the end of the first stage and running inside the top 10 approximately 100 laps into the race, mishaps on pit road hindered his progress. A slow pit stop under caution on lap 135, followed by a speeding violation during a green flag pit stop with less than 50 laps remaining, compounded the team’s issues.
“We had a decent car in the front half, but it was awful in the back. We just have to keep digging,” Bowman remarked.
This performance follows a 31st-place finish at Darlington Raceway, where pit road errors—including a 40-second stop due to an unconnected air hose—hampered his efforts. “They look really awesome in all the metrics,” Bowman noted about his pit crew, emphasizing their hard work despite recent setbacks.
Currently, Bowman is 35 points below the transfer spot ahead of the elimination race at Bristol. While mathematically capable of advancing on points, he acknowledged the reality: “It’s really a must-win situation.”
Hendrick Motorsports Vice Chairman Jeff Gordon indicated the urgency for the No. 48 team to resolve their pit road issues, stating, “They’re going to have to get a gift at Bristol… I’m not counting them out yet.”
As Bowman heads into Bristol, the urgency for improvement has never been clearer—a combination of meticulous preparation and race-day execution will be critical for his championship hopes.
