Tag: Alex Bowman

Alex Bowman addresses wreck with Ryan Blaney at Talladega in 2024

Alex Bowman addresses his wreck with Ryan Blaney at Talladega Superspeedway in 2024. Find out what Bowman said about the wreck with Blaney!

[autotag]Alex Bowman[/autotag] turned up his performance in the 2024 NASCAR playoffs, and Sunday afternoon at Talladega Superspeedway was another example. Bowman was able to survive the carnage and will take a 26-point advantage over the playoff cut-line going into the Round of 12 finale at the Charlotte ROVAL. However, it didn’t come without some drama.

Following Stage 2, Ryan Blaney expressed frustration at Bowman after the No. 48 car gave him a bad push, causing a big wreck on the front stretch. Blaney blamed Bowman for the wreck, and the Hendrick Motorsports driver took responsibility as well.

“We had kind of gotten pretty far back in track position obviously; got stuck in the fourth lane, and that just killed us,” Bowman said. “Just overall kind of disappointed in myself. I made the wrong move a lot, and I crashed (Ryan Blaney) with just a crappy push. Obviously, just trying to push him to try and help our lane for the stage and just hit him in the wrong spot. I hate that I did that. I hate that I made the wrong decisions that I did, and I didn’t do a very good job today.”

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“Frustrated because we had a really good Camaro today. The team did a really good job, and we obviously had moments where we were really good. But just execution-wise, I made too many mistakes and put us in too many bad spots. Obviously hate that I ruined some other guys’ days too.”

Bowman has made few mistakes during this playoff run, and it has worked out in his favor. Blaney may race Bowman a little differently moving forward, but that’s also the product of superspeedway racing. For now, Bowman will focus on making the Round of 8 and look to turn up the heat on the competition even more over the last five events.

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Bowman good, but ‘probably not good enough’ in Cup playoffs

The NASCAR Cup Series postseason has been good for Alex Bowman, but not good enough. He and his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team have three top-10 finishes in four races, which is good enough for a 9.5 average finish. It’s the second-best average of …

The NASCAR Cup Series postseason has been good for Alex Bowman, but not good enough.

He and his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team have three top-10 finishes in four races, which is good enough for a 9.5 average finish. It’s the second-best average of all playoff drivers, and Bowman is one of four who has three top 10s, but he’s the one at the top of the field in stage points earned (53).

“It’s been a good four weeks for us,” Bowman said Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway. “We have a long way to go, though, so we have to keep executing at a high level. I certainly know that we’re capable of it and I’m capable of it, but we just have a long way to go and need to keep it up.”

Of the Hendrick Motorsports drivers, Bowman and Elliott are the only two who have earned four top-10 finishes in three races. They both have the same average finish, but William Byron and Kyle Larson sit above Bowman on the playoff grid having put together a much better regular season, giving them the insurance (playoff) points to help their cause.

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Bowman had just one win in the regular season. The five playoff points from that were the only bonus points he carried into the postseason.

The turnaround in performance has come at the right time. On the topic of consistency, Bowman said after last weekend at Kansas Speedway his team has “been OK” with better pace in the race car, and that they were headed in the right direction.

It was not a tongue-in-cheek comment about their — perhaps unexpected — rise in the championship hunt.

“That’s how I feel,” Bowman said. “We haven’t won in the playoffs and we’re running OK; we’re not running amazing. I think last week we had a really fast race car and the last restart didn’t work out. We’re doing well, but we’re eight above the cutline, so probably not good enough at the moment.”

2024 Hollywood Casino 400 odds, picks and predictions

Looking at the odds for Sunday’s 2024 Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway, with NASCAR expert picks and predictions.

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The NASCAR Cup Series is at Kansas Speedway Sunday for the 2024 Hollywood Casino 400. The green flag drops at 3 p.m. ET (USA Network) for the 1st race of the Round of 12 in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NASCAR odds around the 2024 Hollywood Casino 400 odds, and make our expert NASCAR picks and predictions.

2024 Hollywood Casino 400: What you need to know

  • Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell is on the pole for Sunday’s race. Bell, currently 2nd in the playoff standings, has never won at Kansas in 9 Cup starts, but he has 6 top-10 finishes and a 14.1 Average-Finish Position (AFP)
  • JGR’s Denny Hamlin, who made the Round of 12 with a strong finish in the Bristol Night Race last weekend, has 4 career wins at Kansas to lead all active drivers. He enters with a 12.3 AFP, and he’ll go off 8th in Sunday’s grid
  • Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson, who tops the standings, has 2 career wins at Kansas in 19 Cup starts with a 12.3 AFP, 702 laps led and a 104.3 Average Rating
  • JGR’s Martin Truex Jr., who was eliminated from the playoffs last week, has 2 career wins with 11 top-5 finishes, 19 top-10 runs and 906 laps led in 32 career Cup starts at Kansas
  • Team Penske’s Joey Logano has 3 career wins at Kansas in 30 Cup starts, but he also has 4 DNFs and a dismal 16.9 AFP
  • Stewart-Haas Racing’s Chase Briscoe sits 12th in the playoff standings, and he’ll go off 9th Sunday. He has never finished better than 13th in 7 Cup starts at Kansas while posting a 21.1 AFP
  • Hendrick’s Chase Elliott leads all active drivers at Kansas with a 10.2 AFP in 17 career Cup starts. However, he goes off from the back of the field due to engine trouble in Saturday’s practice session

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2024 Hollywood Casino 400 – Expert pick

Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of NASCAR odds. Lines last updated at 12:09 a.m. ET.

CHRISTOPHER BELL (+700) is a much better value than playing Kyle Larson (+325), who is listed as the chalk. Backing the polesitter gives you a chance to multiply your initial wager by 7 times if he is able to steer his ride to checkers.

While Bell has never won a Cup race at Kansas, he did win once in the Xfinity Series at this track, and he has finished in the top 10 in 6 of his 9 career Cup starts so far, with just one DNF, and he has been as high as 3rd.

2024 Hollywood Casino 400 – Contender(s)

BRAD KESELOWSKI (+2200) is worth a roll of the dice. He is no longer in the playoffs after getting bumped out at Bristol last week, but he has a chance to make some noise on Sunday.

The RFK Racing driver has 2 wins with 7 top-5 finishes and 14 top-10 runs in 29 career Cup starts at Kansas Speedway, and he has led the pack for 351 laps. He is 2nd among all active drivers with an impressive 12.2 AFP, too.

If that’s a little too risky for you, ALEX BOWMAN (+1300) is a driver not a lot of people are talking about. He is 11th in the playoff standings, and he has been solid, yet unspectacular at Kansas in his career.

Bowman has a 15.2 AFP in his Cup career at Kansas, good for 8th among active full-time drivers. He has 9 top-10 finishes in his 17 Cup starts, with 183 laps led.

BOWMAN AND/OR KESELOWSKI TOP-10 FINISH isn’t a bad prop bet, either, when those become available.

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Bowman leads Hendrick 1-2-3 in Bristol elimination race qualifying

Alex Bowman continued his strong start to the NASCAR Cup Series postseason by winning the pole for Saturday night’s elimination race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Bowman, the final driver to take time in the last round of single-car qualifying, went to …

Alex Bowman continued his strong start to the NASCAR Cup Series postseason by winning the pole for Saturday night’s elimination race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Bowman, the final driver to take time in the last round of single-car qualifying, went to the top of the board at 126.720mph (15.142s). It’s Bowman’s first pole this season and the fifth of his career. It’s also his first at Bristol.

“I thought we struggled a little bit in practice, more than I was expecting, and then in qualifying I had a lot of grip,” Bowman said. “I was a little bit too tight and it was one of those situations where you run a lap and it’s like, ‘It’s going to be really good or really slow,’ because when you’re tight, you slow down until you can turn. Obviously, after the first round, I felt pretty good about it and [I’m] thankful to start up front and qualify well.

“Qualifying has [not been] our strongest suit over the years, so being a cutoff race and everything, starting up front is definitely important.”

Bowman goes into the Bristol night race sitting 41 points above the cutline. He leads all playoff drivers in stage points earned in the first two postseason races (28).

Kyle Larson will join his Hendrick Motorsports teammate on the front row, qualifying second at 126.378mph.

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William Byron made it a 1-2-3 sweep for Hendrick Motorsports, running third at 126.695mph.

Martin Truex Jr. qualified fourth at 126.220mph; Chase Briscoe, fifth at 126.486mph and Christopher Bell, sixth at 125.889mph.

Carson Hocevar was the first non-playoff driver inside the top 10, going seventh at 126.096mph.

Denny Hamlin qualified eighth at 125.666mph followed by non-playoff driver Corey LaJoie in ninth at 125.166mph. Chase Elliott rounded out the top 10 at 125.248mph.

Hamlin is the defending winner of the Bristol night race.

Eight playoff drivers qualified outside the top 10: Ty Gibbs, 13th; Tyler Reddick, 15th; Joey Logano, 20th; Ryan Blaney, 22nd and Brad Keselowski, 23rd.

Austin Cindric qualified 27th; Harrison Burton, 34th and Daniel Suarez, 35th.

The four playoff drivers below the cutline going into Saturday night are Hamlin, Keselowski, Truex, and Burton.

There are 37 drivers entered at Bristol.

NEXT: Bass Pro Shops Night Race at 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday (USA).

RESULTS

Jeff Gordon talks about Alex Bowman rumors ahead of 2024 NASCAR playoffs

Jeff Gordon talks about the rumors of Alex Bowman leaving Hendrick Motorsports ahead of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.

[autotag]Alex Bowman[/autotag]’s future has been a massive topic of conversation over the last few days. Bowman pushed back against the rumor of him leaving Hendrick Motorsports and joining Spire Motorsports, with Justin Haley taking his seat in the No. 48 car. However, those rumors are still relevant, even after Bowman denied them during NASCAR playoff media day in 2024.

On Friday morning, Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman [autotag]Jeff Gordon[/autotag] jumped on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio and was asked to address the rumors involving Bowman. Gordon didn’t want to address such talks.

“Yeah, you know, don’t like to address rumors ’cause that’s what they are, but, you know, we have a lot of confidence in [Alex Bowman], and [Blake Harris], and the whole No. 48 team. Nobody wants to see them go deeper into the playoffs or go to Phoenix and compete for a championship more than we do. We believe in those guys.”

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“I understand silly season, and things come along when performance hasn’t been there, especially at Hendrick Motorsports, you know, is a high standard. I understand how sometimes those things get out there, but we are excited about the future there.”

Gordon didn’t exactly clear the air on Bowman’s future at Hendrick Motorsports. Could the driver of the No. 48 car truly be fighting for his job over the next 10 races? It remains to be seen, but Bowman could be in line for a big playoff run if the No. 48 team can find speed. If not, these rumors could only intensify over the coming weeks.

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Alex Bowman denies leaving Hendrick Motorsports, yet rumors persist

Alex Bowman denies the rumors of possibly being replaced at Hendrick Motorsports; however, the idea still persists around NASCAR.

[autotag]Alex Bowman[/autotag]’s media day for the 2024 NASCAR playoffs started with a bang. Bowman was asked about his plans for the 2025 season, which may seem odd to some as his contract runs through the 2026 season. For the [autotag]Hendrick Motorsports[/autotag] driver, it wasn’t the first time he had dealt with such a question, and he didn’t hold back on his thoughts.

“Yeah, that rumor has certainly been annoying,” Bowman said. “Obviously my contract is through the end of 2026. All I can tell you is like what my bosses have told me, and that is that there are no plans to change anything. Yeah, rumors are just rumors. Hopefully they’ll get their announcements done so my rumors stop, obviously. Yeah, as far as I know, I’m driving the No. 48 next year.”

What rumor? Over the last month, the possibility of Bowman leaving Hendrick Motorsports and going to Spire Motorsports for the 2025 NASCAR season has been slowly growing. In his place, Justin Haley would drive the No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports after an impressive regular season stint with Rick Ware Racing in the No. 51 car.

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The rumor started after Spire Motorsports announced that Corey LaJoie wouldn’t return to the No. 7 Cup car in 2025. Over the last few weeks, it has only picked up steam and has been going around NASCAR further than the noise on social media. Yet, does Bowman have any reason to doubt what his bosses are telling him?

“Yeah, I don’t think so,” Bowman said. “I trust my bosses, and that’s what they’ve told me. So yeah, other than that, just focused on trying to be strong the next 10 weeks.”

Bowman will set this to the side and focus on winning his first career Cup Series championship in 2024. However, the chatter has only grown over recent weeks, and some within the industry are still convinced of the possibility, despite his comments on Wednesday. For now, Bowman will focus on what’s ahead, and he hopes that is a big playoff run with his No. 48 team over the next 10 weeks.

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Bowman rejects ‘annoying’ rumors about his Hendrick seat

Alex Bowman had to spend a portion of his NASCAR Cup Series playoff media day dismissing rumors that he’s losing his ride at Hendrick Motorsports. “That rumor has certainly been annoying,” Bowman said Wednesday. “My contract is through the end of …

Alex Bowman had to spend a portion of his NASCAR Cup Series playoff media day dismissing rumors that he’s losing his ride at Hendrick Motorsports.

“That rumor has certainly been annoying,” Bowman said Wednesday. “My contract is through the end of ’26, and all I can tell you is what my bosses have told me, and that’s there are no plans to change anything. Rumors are just rumors.

“As far as I know, I’m driving the [No.] 48 next year and nothing is changing.”

Bowman has driven for Rick Hendrick since 2018. He signed a three-year contract extension with the organization before the start of the 2023 season, and sponsor Ally signed a five-year extension to remain on the car through the 2028 season.

“I trust my bosses, and that’s what they’ve told me,” Bowman said. “Other than that, just focus on trying to be strong the next 10 weeks.”

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It’s not new for Bowman to hear the rumor mill is trying to rid him of his job. But it reignited earlier this week when spotter Brett Griffin insinuated on the Door Bumper Clear podcast, which is a part of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s media network, that Bowman might be out of more than just the playoffs if he doesn’t advance out of the first round.

Bowman qualified for the postseason with a victory on the Chicago street course. He was sitting on the playoff cutline before the win.

“That’s a rumor that I’ve heard for a month and it got to the point where I picked up the phone and called everybody, and everybody said, ‘Absolutely not,’” Bowman said. “So that’s really all I have to go on, and I don’t have a reason to believe anything other than that. There’s no, ‘Oh, you need to do this to keep your job.’ It’s absolutely not (the case). Everything is fine.

“Beyond that, we need to go run better; it’s been a miserable month, and we haven’t executed at a high level at all, so we need to go run better the next 10 weeks. But we need to do that for us and our playoff run and for Ally and the 48 car. There’s no (ultimatum) you need to do this to keep your job. As far as I know, I’m not worried about that at all.”

Since his victory, Bowman has earned one top-five finish. He begins the postseason as the No. 12 seed with five playoff points.

Alex Bowman’s future at Hendrick Motorsports receives shocking update in 2024

Alex Bowman’s future at Hendrick Motorsports receives a shocking update in 2024. Is Bowman at risk of losing his No. 48 seat at Hendrick?

[autotag]Alex Bowman[/autotag]’s future at [autotag]Hendrick Motorsports[/autotag] has been a big topic over the last few years. Alongside the likes of Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, and William Byron, a majority of NASCAR fans point to Bowman as the odd man out or the fourth driver. Lately, FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass suggested that he can’t afford many hiccups, and another well-known NASCAR personality has indicated the same idea.

When discussing who needs a good run at the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, NASCAR spotter Brett Griffin said Bowman has to impress over the next few weeks and ended his post with “#WarmSeat.” It is another indication that Bowman’s seat in the No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports may not be as safe as you would expect after winning in 2024.

Bowman is under contract with Hendrick Motorsports for the 2025 NASCAR season, but could he really be the odd man out? A strong playoff run would likely put the speculation to rest for the 2025 season. For now, Bowman and the No. 48 team must focus on the upcoming 10-race playoff and hope their efforts are enough to push for a NASCAR Cup Series championship.

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Alex Bowman’s future at Hendrick Motorsports gets a big update in 2024

Alex Bowman’s future at Hendrick Motorsports receives a big update in 2024. Is Bowman’s seat in the No. 48 car secured moving forward?

[autotag]Alex Bowman[/autotag] has a contract with [autotag]Hendrick Motorsports[/autotag] through the 2026 NASCAR season, but it hasn’t stopped the speculation of his ride status over the last few years. Bowman missed the 2023 playoffs and entered 2024 looking for redemption. The driver of the No. 48 car shocked the NASCAR world at the Chicago Street Course, and while he is under contract, the latest update on his future is slightly alarming.

FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass said that while Bowman’s win at the Chicago Street Course temporarily silenced much of the silence regarding his ride status, it seems like the driver of the No. 48 car “can’t afford many hiccups” moving forward. Previously, Pockrass didn’t include this portion about Bowman in his 2025 NASCAR lineup projections article.

When looking at the driver lineup for Hendrick Motorsports, Bowman is always pointed to as the driver to be replaced due to the success of Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, and William Byron. There shouldn’t be any concern over Bowman’s seat for the 2025 season, but based on Pockrass’ comments, the No. 48 team must continue to run well moving forward.

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Alex Bowman talks about his eventful day at Indianapolis in 2024

Alex Bowman talks about his eventful day at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2024. Find out what Bowman said about the 2024 Brickyard 400!

[autotag]Alex Bowman[/autotag] didn’t have the day he was expecting at Indianapolis Motor Speedway after two strong races in Chicago and Pocono. Bowman was on the same strategy as race winner Kyle Larson; however, he couldn’t move through the field and ended up crashing out of the event late. The Hendrick Motorsports driver ended the race with a 31st-place finish.

Following the event, Bowman talked about his day for the No. 48 team and revealed a shocking part about his car. Apparently, there was a fire in the vehicle, and Bowman felt the impact of that shocking event.

“Bummer of a day,” Bowman said. “We didn’t really have a very good day going with our No. 48 Ally Camaro. We were pretty fast in clean air, but just really tight in dirty air. We were stuck in traffic there, and getting blocked all the way down the straightaway for 27th was pretty frustrating. We just didn’t need to be that far back in position.”

“We should have been running better than that and eventually the way the strategy and the cautions fell, we got buried there. We had a lot going on, and my ass was on fire at one point, so interesting day, for sure.”

Bowman can still carry momentum into the Olympic break as he now sits in the 2024 NASCAR playoffs. It takes pressure off the No. 48 team’s shoulders, as they don’t need to focus on points right now. Instead, Bowman will look to regroup and find victory lane at Richmond Raceway in August, which is somewhere that has been successful in the past.

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