With the NASCAR Cup Series heading into its 19th event this Sunday in Chicago, the spotlight is on Alex Bowman as he works to maintain his playoff standing. The Hendrick Motorsports driver, currently under mounting Alex Bowman playoff pressure Chicago race scrutiny, sits in 15th place with 444 points, teetering just above the elimination line as the postseason approaches.
Bowman’s Standings and the Tight Playoff Chase
Barely 39 points ahead of the cutoff, Bowman holds only a narrow lead over his closest competitors, including Bubba Wallace. Entering the weekend, he is just one slot above Wallace and two spots ahead of the crucial cut line, making his position anything but secure. Bowman has yet to secure a win in the 2025 season, intensifying the calculations and risks involved for the No. 48 Chevy team heading into Grant Park.
Fox Sports analyst Bob Pockrass revealed insights into the defending Chicago race winner’s approach, discussing how Bowman must weigh scoring points versus chasing a win to solidify his playoff future. This delicate balance has become a focal point for both fans and analysts as the Cup Series rolls into its key midseason stretch.
“I don’t think we’re in a awesome spot and points obviously. A lot of opportunities for winners below the cut line coming up. So, certainly, you know that pressure is there but we’ve kind of done it to ourselves in a sense. We have that two-month stretch that we really struggled and I just shouldn’t even really say that we really struggled like we just didn’t finish any races. We finished last a lot. So, last couple weeks have been pretty good for us,” Alex Bowman said (01:30 onwards). —Alex Bowman, Driver
“So we just need to keep running how we should and the rest will take care of itself,” he added. —Alex Bowman, Driver
A Season of Contrasts and Setbacks
This season has been marked by inconsistency for Bowman, who endured eight finishes outside the top 25, including two consecutive last-place results at Nashville and Michigan. An engine failure in Bristol and a crash in Texas further derailed his campaign, contributing to the difficult two-month stretch Bowman referenced.
Despite these struggles, there are recent signs of momentum. Bowman’s performance has stabilized in recent weeks, helping him maintain his playoff foothold. He is determined to carry this form into Chicago as qualifying kicks off Saturday, July 5 at 1 p.m. ET, followed by the Grant Park 165 green flag on Sunday at 2:25 p.m. ET.
Road Course Mixed Results and Past Success in Chicago
Bowman’s road course performances have swung between highs and lows, including six top-10 finishes over the last ten such races. Notably, he finished fourth at the Cup Series’ inaugural international points race in Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, showcasing his adaptability on unfamiliar circuits.
I feel like I’ve struggled at Watkins Glen for a long time, but been pretty successful at the rest of the road courses. So yeah, it’s just kind of hit miss,” Alex Bowman told Bob Pockrass (00:08 onwards). —Alex Bowman, Driver
One of Bowman’s career highlights came at this very venue, as he broke an 80-race winless streak by claiming victory on the 2.2-mile Chicago street course last year. The 12-turn circuit winding through Grant Park in downtown Chicago delivered him his eighth Cup Series win and proved his capability on challenging layouts.
Building Momentum Ahead of Grant Park 165
In spite of his rocky start to the season, Bowman lately found renewed consistency, earning two top-five finishes in the last three races. Most recently, he achieved a third-place run at EchoPark Speedway, advancing to the next phase of the In-Season Challenge.
Across the 2025 season’s opening 18 events, Bowman has tallied nine top-10s, four top-5s, and twice started from pole. This steady resurgence underscores his resilience, as he aims to secure his playoff future for Hendrick Motorsports and maintain his tenuous advantage over rivals like Bubba Wallace.
Tension Builds as Playoff Stakes Rise
With multiple potential winners still lingering beneath the cut line and several races left in the regular season, Bowman’s fate hangs in the balance every weekend. The pressure he faces is shaped by recent setbacks, fierce competitors, and the razor-thin margins separating him from playoff elimination. Grant Park 165 may prove pivotal—not only in shaping Bowman’s season but in determining who advances into the NASCAR playoffs from this tightly packed field.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. How did Alex Bowman get a brain injury?
A. In 2022, Bowman’s racing season kicked off with him securing the second spot in the Daytona 500. Unfortunately, during lap 63, he collided with Harrison Burton’s car as it flipped over.
Q. Is Alex Bowman in a relationship?
A. Alex Bowman and his girlfriend, Chloe Henderson, make a great couple in the racing world!
Q. How did Alex Bowman get brain injury?
A. CHICAGO — Alex Bowman got a concussion after a crash in a NASCAR Cup Series race in 2022. In 2023, he injured his back in a sprint-car accident.
