Noah Gragson blames Alex Bowman for the crash that ended his race early during Sunday’s Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway, costing him a valuable opportunity in the NASCAR Cup Series. The incident unfolded on Lap 114, placing a spotlight on the drivers’ tense exchanges and the impact on their season standings.
Early Crash at Nashville Sparks Controversy
During the Cracker Barrel 400 in Nashville, Alex Bowman appeared to lose control while navigating the inside line through Turns 3 and 4, making contact with Noah Gragson. The collision sent both drivers spinning into the outside wall, forcing Gragson out of the race and dramatically affecting his Cup run in what he described as a critical moment.
After the incident, Gragson was explicit in holding Bowman responsible.
“I gave [Bowman] a whole two lanes off the bottom, and he just trekked me. It annihilated us,”
Gragson said, via Nate Ryan of NBC Sports. The crash was severe and came early, adding to Gragson’s frustrations given the potential he saw for a better result in Music City. He went on to reflect,
“Was so early in the race and that was a hard hit. It is just sort of the story of our year so far. We’ve been running good, running better, then we get taken out by things not of our doing.”
Despite the disappointment, Gragson praised his team’s efforts and the progress made in recent races.
“We just have to go faster to get away from it all. Have been building good cars. We ran good at Charlotte. I feel like we have good speed at some of these tracks. I am really proud of everyone at Front Row Motorsports. It just sucks to be annihilated like that.”
Setback Compounds Troubles for Gragson’s Season
Hoping to ride the momentum of his third top-10 finish from the previous week at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Gragson instead left Nashville with his worst result of the year, finishing in 38th place. The incident marked his fourth “Did Not Finish” of the 2025 season and added to a stretch of bad luck in his inaugural year with Front Row Motorsports.
With 14 races now completed in the regular season, Gragson sits 31st in the Cup Series standings, carrying an average finish of 22.4. The latest crash in Nashville underscores the challenging road he faces to gain ground in the tightly contested field, particularly as the playoff race intensifies.
Bowman’s Troubles Mirror Increased Pressure in Points Standings
Alex Bowman, who was involved in the crash with Gragson, remains 12th in the championship points standings. However, his recent form has raised concerns as he has finished 27th or lower in six of his last eight starts. That early success, which once saw Bowman inside the top five in points, now feels like a distant memory.
Bowman’s once-comfortable position above the postseason cutline has dwindled, with only a 45-point advantage separating him from elimination. As his Hendrick Motorsports teammates — William Byron, Kyle Larson, and Chase Elliott — have surged into the top five and look secure for the playoffs, Bowman faces renewed pressure to deliver as the season heads to Michigan International Speedway the following weekend.
What’s at Stake as the Season Continues
The Nashville crash and its aftermath highlight a difficult chapter for both Noah Gragson and Alex Bowman during the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series. Bowman, meanwhile, must improve his finishes to avoid falling below the playoff cutline, while Gragson and Front Row Motorsports are left searching for better fortune as the season moves forward. With other major drivers such as William Byron, Kyle Larson, and Chase Elliott consolidating their playoff positions, each race grows ever more crucial for those on the cusp or reeling from setbacks.
