Alex Bowman Faces Playoff Pressure Ahead of Chicago Race Showdown
As the NASCAR Cup Series gears up for its 19th race of the season in Chicago, Alex Bowman from Hendrick Motorsports finds himself on the edge of playoff qualification, feeling the heat as the competition intensifies.
Currently sitting 39 points above the playoff elimination line, Bowman is treading a fine line, just two spots ahead of the cutoff with Bubba Wallace hot on his heels. Despite his 15th position on the playoff grid with 444 points, Bowman is yet to secure a win in the 2025 season, adding to the mounting pressure.
Acknowledging the challenging position he is in, Bowman expressed, “I don’t think we’re in an awesome spot in 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.”
Struggling in the past months with multiple finishes outside the top 25, including recent setbacks like engine failure and crashes, Bowman is well aware of the need to step up his game to secure his spot in the playoffs.
Despite the hurdles, Bowman remains optimistic, stating, “So we just need to keep running how we should and the rest will take care of itself.”
With the Grant Park 165 race on the horizon, scheduled to kick off at 2:25 pm ET on Sunday, Bowman is gearing up to prove his mettle on the track. Qualifying rounds will commence on Saturday at 1 pm ET, setting the stage for an adrenaline-pumping showdown.
Known for his prowess on road courses, Bowman has showcased his skills with six top-10 finishes in the last ten races. His impressive fourth-place finish at Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez further solidified his reputation as a force to be reckoned with on such tracks.
Reflecting on his performance on road courses, Bowman shared, “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.”
Recently bouncing back from a string of disappointing results, including a third-place finish at EchoPark Speedway, Bowman is determined to maintain his momentum and clinch a spot in the playoffs.
With nine top-10 finishes, four top-5s, and two pole positions under his belt in the current season, Bowman is poised for a thrilling showdown in Chicago, where the stakes are higher than ever.