Alex Bowman confers with crew chief Adam Wall during an on-track session at Phoenix Raceway. (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)
AVONDALE, Ariz. — Alex Bowman’s hectic but successful weekend at Phoenix Raceway started with the GOVX 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday afternoon, as the Arizona homegrown driver nabbed the pole in the Hendrick Motorsports No. 17 Chevrolet for the 200-lap, 200-mile sprint.
He led more laps than in any of his previous 56 Xfinity Series starts. However, in the end, it was a near side-by-side finish that proved to be bittersweet. Bowman found his way into a gap between three cars to regain the lead after a green-white-checkered finish, but in the final turn, Aric Almirola crowded Bowman into the wall, giving Almirola his fourth win since returning to Joe Gibbs Racing’s Xfinity Series program in 2024.
“I drove straight into the fence on exit”, Bowman said post-race after a hard-fought finish in Saturday’s Xfinity Series showdown. “But he [Almirola] won the race. I get you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.”
Bowman didn’t have much time to ponder that loss, as he pulled double duty driving in the NASCAR Cup Series Shriners Children’s 500, less than 24 hours later. The driver of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro has had his fair share of struggles at Phoenix Raceway in the past.
“It’s so frustrating to go to your home track where you get a bunch of family and friends watching and expecting you to run well, and then you struggle.”
Bowman finished the NASCAR Cup Series Shriners Children’s 500 event on Sunday inside the top 10, finishing seventh after a hard charge with two laps to go, which is his highest recorded finish at Phoenix since 2016.
“I think being so close so many times is the reason why he [Bowman] shows perseverance all the time”, Brandon Grier, a member of No.48 pit crew, said. “I mean, we came, we started at 30, whatever, and he just chipped away at it all day.”
Alex Bowman during the GOVX 200 at Phoenix Raceway. (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)
Bowman admits that there are some tracks on NASCAR’s tumultuous schedule across all three national touring series where he would never attempt the feat of two races in two days.
“It’s really all about the schedule; that includes the most physical tracks are probably the road courses.”
Bowman believes the engagement and passion of the in-person side of the fan base in Arizona makes it worthwhile for him.
“Our sport is so different than other sports, as we are accessible to the fans.”
In a pre-race session for fans, more than half the crowd raised their hands when asked if they were from Tucson.
“He’s a very nice young man, and he’s from Tucson, and we’re from Tucson”, Sheryl Brown, a fan of Bowman’s said. Brown and her husband have been following the 31-year-old Bowman since he came up to the Cup Series.
“I feel like Arizona is a very underrated place for race car drivers. There’s a lot of really great guys that have come from this part of the country.”
Bowman started racing around the age of seven. He started racing a car called a quarter midget, which is similar to a go-kart. By the time he got to high school, Bowman was spending so much time racing that he barely had time for class. As a result, he graduated a year early, admitting he gave up a lot to get to where he is now.
“Obviously, my career path was a lot about perseverance and trying, continuing to try to beat the door down to get an opportunity, and thankfully it worked out.”
When asked what advice Bowman would give himself if he could go back to his early beginnings in racing during the early 2010s.
“Have fun with it, but I’m still trying to give myself that advice.”
The NASCAR Cup Series schedule continues next weekend at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway with the running of the Pennzoil 400.
