It may be the Ally 400 but Alex Bowman intends to focus on the task at hand, not the pressure of a great evening at Nashville. (Photo: Eric Parks | The Podium Finish)
LEBANON, Tenn. – Alex Bowman searches for the pace and momentum that he and his No. 48 Ally Chevrolet team had off the bat in 2023.
In the opening six races of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season, the 30-year-old Tucson, Arizona native was on an absolute tear. Finishing ninth or better in five of the season’s first six races, the Hendrick Motorsports racer led the points standings.
Then, a costly penalty at Richmond dropped the mild mannered racer from first to seventh in the standings, starting a bit of a swoon that continues ahead of Sunday night’s Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway (7 p.m. ET on NBC and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Just as it seemed that Bowman was righting the ship, the agile driver was involved in a violent crash in a High Limit Sprint Car Series race in West Burlington, Iowa, fracturing his vertebrae.
Bowman missed the next three points races from Dover to Darlington and the NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro with Josh Berry filling in for him. Suffice to say, the Arizonan was determined to get back to full strength and in his driver’s seat in the No. 48 car.
Certainly, Bowman produced an admirable effort when he returned in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, starting 31st and tallying a 12th place finish. After a bit of a hiccup at Gateway with a 26th, he tallied a respectable 15th, returning to the 16th and final Playoffs spot.
| Race No. | Venue | Start Pos | Finish Pos | Points | Rank |
| 1 | Daytona | 1 | 5 | 41 | 4 |
| 2 | Fontana | 4 | 8 | 39 | 3 |
| 3 | Las Vegas | 11 | 3 | 46 | 2 |
| 4 | Phoenix | 18 | 9 | 28 | 1 |
| 5 | Atlanta | 15 | 14 | 31 | 1 |
| 6 | Austin | 6 | 3 | 41 | 1 |
| 7 | Richmond | 1 | 8 | -23 | 7 |
| 8 | Bristol Dirt | 17 | 29 | 8 | 10 |
| 9 | Martinsville | 23 | 11 | 26 | 11 |
| 10 | Talladega | 27 | 13 | 33 | 9 |
| 11 | Dover | Did Not Race | |||
| 12 | Kansas | Did Not Race | |||
| 13 | Darlington | Did Not Race | |||
| 14 | Charlotte | 31 | 12 | 26 | 16 |
| 15 | Gateway | 18 | 26 | 11 | 17 |
| 16 | Sonoma | 14 | 15 | 24 | 16 |
Of course, like any racer, Bowman is not competing for respectability and feel good stories. He wants to be a perennial contender for wins and fight for the championship like he showcased earlier this year.
Likewise, he and the No. 48 team hope to have a bit of team consistency as Bowman and crew chief Blake Harris have only worked together in seven of his 13 starts this year. This combination have worked well together with a steady, methodical approach on race day.
Some of that trademark cohesiveness was on display with a 15th place qualifying effort, about on par with his average starting position of 14.3. Moreover, returning to the track about 37 miles to the southeast of Nashville brings some added motivation besides the obvious in the race’s entitlement sponsor.
No doubt, Bowman has shown speed throughout the season. (Photo: Eric Parks | The Podium Finish)
“It is really cool to have Ally have such a big presence at Nashville,” Bowman said in a team press release. “I think that they go all in on everything they do and to have this race be such a big weekend is really neat.
“We flew in a couple of weeks ago and built bikes for the Boys and Girls Club of Middle Tennessee, so it goes to show that Ally is committed to making a difference in the sport of NASCAR. I think it is really cool that I get to help them build the sport I love.”
Making a difference is in Bowman’s core values as a driver and individual through the charitable efforts that he and his sponsor, Ally, commit to throughout the year. Moreover, he is often the cool customer of the Hendrick Motorsports quartet, an indelible quality that may be valuable as the intensity and heat pick up in the summer months.
Similarly, Harris hopes to do his part to bring the No. 48 team back to its genuine contender status seen in the opening stanza of the year.
Qualifying in 15th, Bowman and crew chief Blake Harris may have something up their sleeves in Sunday night’s 300-lap race. (Photo: Trish McCormack | The Podium Finish)
Although Bowman and company can point their way into the Playoffs, the vibrant crew chief wants to come through with good strategy, execution and absolute determination to tally the No. 48 team’s first win of the year.
“I think this weekend means a lot to me,” Harris said in a team press release. “Obviously, it is my first time at the Ally 400 with the No. 48 team and knowing how much Ally puts into this weekend, I want to do well for everyone at Ally and Hendrick Motorsports.
“Last year, we did okay with the No. 34 team and got a top-10 stage finish, but I think we are capable of doing better. Overall, I am excited to go and hoping to get Alex the guitar in Victory Lane.”
