he 2024 NASCAR Cup season reached peak drama during the Round of 12 cutoff race at the Roval, with a shocker that left Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) and Alex Bowman stunned. Bowman, who had been consistent throughout the playoffs, fought his way into the last-8, only to see his championship hopes shattered when his No. 48 Chevrolet was disqualified for being underweight.
Despite having the option to appeal the disqualification, HMS opted not to contest the ruling, citing a lack of understanding about what had gone wrong. NASCAR Hall of Famer and former Hendrick driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. weighed in on the controversy during a recent episode of his podcast, revealing that the team is still in the dark about the exact cause of the disqualification.
“This is Alex’s championship on the line. They could have appealed, but they didn’t,” Earnhardt Jr. explained. “I called around, looking for information, and was told that they had no clue how the car ended up being light or what could have fallen off. It’s a real head-scratcher.”
Earnhardt Jr. expressed surprise at HMS’s confusion, especially given the team’s strong technical prowess. He noted that, typically, NASCAR teams can quickly identify such issues, but this time, the crew was left baffled even hours after the race.
“It’s shocking because HMS has such a top-tier technical crew,” Junior continued. “Normally, they’d spend 20 minutes looking over the car and figure out what happened. But this time, even after hours, they were still dumbfounded, unsure of how this happened.”
The mystery surrounding Bowman’s disqualification has only deepened the drama, as HMS is known for its attention to detail and engineering expertise. For a team of their caliber to be left without answers is rare, and Earnhardt Jr.’s insight highlights just how perplexing the situation remains.
While discussing the disqualification, Mike Davis, the producer behind Earnhardt Jr.’s podcast, emphasized how the platform has become a safe and comfortable space for Junior to open up, especially given his introverted nature. Davis mentioned that the podcast allows Earnhardt Jr. to share his thoughts freely, offering fans an intimate look into the mind of one of NASCAR’s legends.
“For Dale Jr., who’s always been shy and introverted, the podcast is a comfortable place for him to have conversations. It’s therapy in a way, and people really connect with that,” Davis said.
The podcast has undoubtedly given fans a closer look at Earnhardt Jr.’s perspective on the sport, making it one of the most engaging platforms for NASCAR enthusiasts. With episodes like this, where he discusses major controversies and opens up about his experiences, it’s clear why his podcast has become a must-listen for racing fans.
As the playoffs heat up, it remains to be seen whether HMS will uncover the truth behind Bowman’s disqualification. For now, the mystery continues, and NASCAR fans are left wondering what could have caused such a critical error at such a pivotal moment in the season.
