Alex Bowman, currently ranked 12th in the NASCAR Cup Series driver standings, continues to express Alex Bowman optimism despite tough NASCAR stretch as he and his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team face on-track adversity. While Bowman has not matched the pace of his Hendrick teammates this year, he remains steadfast in his outlook heading into the middle of the schedule.
Throughout the season, Bowman has shown moments of strong performance, but consistent results have eluded him. Appearing on the “Chasing Checkers” podcast with Chase McCabe, Bowman acknowledged that he’s come close to breakthrough moments but has repeatedly fallen short due to a range of unpredictable setbacks, referencing races like Homestead where victory was within reach.
“I feel like our fastest race cars have all been on weeks that we haven’t finished the races, unfortunately, for a pretty big variety of different reasons at this point. But we’re continuing to plug away at it. And I feel like we’re right there,”
—Alex Bowman, Driver
Despite numbers that may suggest otherwise, Bowman contested the notion that the team’s performance is accurately reflected in the recent results, saying the No. 48 group still executes well even if outcomes don’t show on the stat sheet.
“I think we’re in a pretty good spot,”
—Alex Bowman, Driver
However, a string of challenging races underscores the team’s struggle. At Charlotte, after qualifying in ninth, Bowman’s day unraveled early due to a spin that sent him back to 29th place. Troubles mounted in Nashville, as Bowman’s spin initiated contact with Noah Gragson, resulting in both drivers crashing out of the Cracker Barrel 400.
The difficulties have become a pattern in recent weeks. Texas brought another setback when Bowman was caught in a multi-car accident as the final stage began, relegating him to a 35th place finish. Bristol was no better, with engine issues ending his day prematurely. Apart from a fifth place in Kansas and a top-ten at Talladega, strong finishes have been sparse for Bowman.
One of Bowman’s high points came at Homestead, where he challenged his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson for the win in the final laps. Bowman held a strong position until Larson pulled ahead in the closing circuits, ultimately taking the victory in the Straight Talk Wireless 400.
Looking Ahead to the Challenges and Opportunities on the Schedule
With the season heading toward a series of varied venues—including Michigan, Mexico, Pocono, and Atlanta—Bowman remains focused on capitalizing where he sees potential. While he doesn’t look too far ahead on the schedule, Bowman believes that several tracks coming up, such as Michigan and Chicago, have historically played to the strengths of him and the No. 48 team.
“I think Mexico can be really good for us, too. I feel like the new places we tend to run pretty well at. Our road course program has been really good. So, I’m excited about getting down there, experiencing that,”
—Alex Bowman, Driver
He emphasizes the No. 48 crew’s improvements on nearly every track where past results have been lacking and considers the summer portion of the calendar packed with opportunity. While he notes reservations about racing at New Hampshire, Bowman is confident in the steps his team has made and anticipates competitive runs across the upcoming events.
As Bowman continues to compete for Hendrick Motorsports, he remains optimistic that big results are within reach. If the team can translate their glimpses of speed into consistent finishes, a strong turnaround during this crucial part of the NASCAR season may still be ahead for Alex Bowman.
