Jeff Gordon on Alex Bowman performance came sharply into focus following Bowman’s difficult outing at World Wide Technology Raceway, where the Hendrick Motorsports driver finished 26th—his worst among teammates—compounding his struggles to remain playoff-relevant in the Round of 12. The race, held Sunday, highlighted ongoing issues for Bowman, including pit road mishaps and a costly penalty, leaving both his team and leadership concerned about their postseason prospects.
Poor Results and Frustration Mount for Bowman and Hendrick Motorsports
Entering World Wide Technology Raceway ranked 15th and 19 points below the playoff cutoff, Alex Bowman was in dire need of a strong finish to advance. However, he spent the entirety of the race outside the top 10 and was further hampered by trouble on pit road and a speeding penalty issued by NASCAR.
Hendrick Motorsports Vice Chairman Jeff Gordon addressed the setbacks in a post-race exchange with journalist Kelly Crandall, indicating concerns about the team‘s consistency and execution.
“We just can’t get things to go right on pit road. … We got to figure that out, for sure.”
—Jeff Gordon, Vice Chairman
The difficulties on Sunday were not isolated. Bowman’s race at WWT followed a pair of disappointing runs: a weak finish in the regular-season finale at Daytona and a subpar showing in the Round of 16 opener at Darlington Raceway. As a result, Bowman sits 15th in championship points, now trailing the critical cutoff line by 35 points, making the situation increasingly urgent for the No. 48 team.
Bowman, candid after the race, spoke to NBC Sports about execution and the mounting frustration from recurring setbacks.
“It was just really poor execution on all angles today. It was a bummer,”
Alex Bowman told NBC Sports.
“I thought our No. 48 Ally Chevrolet was OK once we were kind of towards the front-half. We just struggled in the back. Super frustrating, but all we can do is keep digging.”
—Alex Bowman, Driver
Looking Ahead: Bristol Night Race Offers Final Hope
With the playoffs slipping away, Bowman now targets the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, which takes place next Saturday, September 13. The 500-lap event—crucial for Bowman’s postseason ambitions—will be broadcast live on USA and covered on PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, providing fans and analysts a close look at whether the team can reverse its fortunes.
Bowman Defends Rival Joey Logano Amid Playoff Criticism
As discourse around the current playoff format intensified, some drivers and fans have continued to express nostalgia for the previous 36-race, season-long points system, dismissing the legitimacy of the modern elimination structure. Joey Logano, the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion and playoff contender, has faced such criticism.
Alex Bowman, who shares appreciation for the old format like Ryan Blaney, Jimmie Johnson, and Chase Elliott, rejected any notion that Logano’s titles were unearned.
“I’ve seen people who try to say that like Joey’s taking advantage of it, right? Because he struggled throughout the year last year, got one win, and then kicked all our asses in the playoffs,”
Bowman said in a statement. —Alex Bowman, Driver
“That doesn’t make him an illegitimate champion. He has the system that we all have to work with, and he worked with it better than the rest of us. I don’t think that makes it illegitimate,”
he added. —Alex Bowman, Driver
With Logano pursuing a fourth Cup championship—which would tie him with Jeff Gordon—and Bowman still seeking his first, both drivers remain central figures as the battle for the championship intensifies at Bristol and beyond.
What Comes Next for Bowman, Gordon, and Hendrick Motorsports
The persistent woes on pit road, continued struggles in execution, and Bowman’s sliding position underscore a tense environment at Hendrick Motorsports. The remaining races, starting with the high-stakes showdown at Bristol Motor Speedway, will test the organization’s ability to resolve persistent issues, while Jeff Gordon‘s focus on improvement and Alex Bowman‘s determination to fight for every opportunity will be critical as the playoff picture evolves.
