With four wins and a fourth Playoff appearance in as many seasons, Alex Bowman is all smiles heading into 2022. (Photo: Scott R LePage/Anthology Photo/Hendrick Motorsports)
As 28-year-old Alex Bowman progresses in his NASCAR Cup Series career, he sets his sights on building a year of success and potential. While the Tucson, Arizona native netted four wins at Richmond, Dover, Pocono and Martinsville, he seeks consistency in 2022.
Bowman, an eighth year Cup racer, continually evolves with a distinct racecraft. Certainly, the driver of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is smooth, efficient and calculative on the track.
The proof is in the pudding for Bowman in terms of a competitive, confident driver since joining Hendrick Motorsports in 2016. For the past four seasons, Bowman has made the Playoffs each year with points finishes of 16th, 12th, sixth and 14th.
With six wins in his Cup career heading into this season, Bowman possesses genuine confidence despite the plethora of changes that he and other drivers and teams face. Least to say, he embraces the many challenges awaiting him as he steps outside of his comfort zone.
While Bowman looks to achieve incredible successes in 2022, he’s familiar with a particular seat in racing. In this case, Bowman stops by the “Hot Seat” for the fifth time here on The Podium Finish. Now, let’s get those seatbelts tight another time as “Mr. Pressure” is back, here on TPF!
Rob Tiongson : Alex, thanks for joining me for another interview with The Podium Finish and your first stint on The Podium Finish Live! podcast. I hope the off-season has treated you very well, and I’m sure you’re getting ready for the start of this year. Now, you’re coming off a great season where you got four wins, and you got your fourth Playoff appearance in a row since joining Hendrick.
So first of all, how pumped up are you about the success of your team last year, heading into this year?
Alex Bowman : Yeah, definitely was a solid year for us last year. Obviously, still looking for a little bit more consistency. But to have four wins, it was a great year. So just trying to make the most out of next year, obviously, or this year.
There’s so many things, so many variables that we don’t know how things are going to happen, just with the new car, and new surfaces on racetracks, and stuff like that. So just trying to be the most prepared I can be. Excited, and ready to go.
Tiongson : Certainly, because it’s not your typical transition from an off-season into a new season where you have the same basic car, but a few rule changes. This is a completely new year for everybody all across the board. So I mean, you’ve got those four wins to take pride in from last year, but I’m sure there were some areas of opportunities that you, Greg, and the entire team were thinking about heading into this year.
So, what are some things that you’re looking to build off of last year, in terms of a season that your entire organization won 47% of the races last year?
Bowman expresses confidence heading into this season. (Photo: Scott R LePage / Anthology Photo/Hendrick Motorsports)
Bowman : Yeah, for sure. Just trying to find that consistency is the biggest thing for us. I feel like we thought we were in a place at the end of ’20 that we found it, and obviously had a great Playoff run there. But then as we went into ’21, just really struggled to be consistent from week to week.
Obviously, feel like we can close out races, and if we have an opportunity to win, we’re probably going to pull it off. But I feel like just having that consistent top five speed every week was something that we struggled with. So, trying our best to improve upon that.
And obviously, like you said, the new car is going to shake everything up so much. We don’t really know what to expect. So, had a little more testing than normal this off-season. Still got some to go. But definitely looking forward to getting the season started. Doesn’t really feel like it’s been an off-season, we’ve been so busy, but it’s been a lot of fun.
Tiongson : I was about to say, this has not been your typical off-season, because you’ve been pretty busy on your own, not just with testing and obviously the content heading into this year, but you did the Chili Bowl this past weekend, which I’m sure was a really electric atmosphere. So let’s talk a little bit about that experience, because you’ve certainly made some progress with that this year and nearly got into the main show. So, what were your thoughts about this past weekend’s Chili Bowl, and are you planning to do more of these races in the future?
Bowman : Yeah. I think, for me, the Chili Bowl is one of my favorite weeks of the year. It’s such a great atmosphere. The amount of people in one building is pretty crazy. So, it’s a ton of fun. I went there with way more focus on the two other cars on my team than my own car. They’re both really great racecar drivers, and they do that all year.
So for me, it’s been a couple years since I had run the Chili Bowl, or drove a midget. So, went in with low expectations and had a solid run. The other two cars were really good as well. So, had a lot of fun.
It was really cool to have Ally on board. They really embraced that event. It was so awesome to see. They had a booth. They had signage everywhere. They had rally towels that they were throwing around everywhere. They had T-shirt cannons. They almost knocked the sprinkler off the top of the building, which was going to be really bad, so we had to put the T-shirt cannons away.
But, yeah, it was just such a great time to have them embrace that event, and it’s one of my favorite events of the year. Takes some recovery afterwards, but it’s a really good time.
Tiongson : Hey, it’s all well worth it. I mean, you’ve got to have a little bit of fun during the year, in addition to your day job with the No. 48 team. So, that sounds like a lot of fun that you and Ally had with your team.
And speaking of Ally, you’ve got a really sharp-looking car for this year, and I really love how different it looks compared to last season. So, the Ally No. 48 team just keeps cranking out these amazing paint schemes. I’m just kind of curious as to how much input you had with this year’s paint scheme.
Bowman’s No. 48 Ally ride gets a sleek new look. (Photo: Hendrick Motorsports)
Bowman : Yeah, definitely. I feel like I was really involved last year, and still pretty involved this year. But last year, we were going through tons of different ones, and kind of back and forth, back and forth. And this year, I don’t think there was as much back and forth. So, I really like it. It looks really good. I’m convinced they copied my midget paint schemes from before, because we had those done before the Cup car, and then the Cup car is pretty similar.
But, no, it’s really cool. I think it’s a great looking car. I really like that color, that dark champagne color. I think a lot of people think it’s just white, but it’s not. In person, it’s a way different color. So, it’s really cool to see. And I think it’s cool that Ally kind of lets me and Greg be involved in that as much as they do. So, definitely really enjoy that.
Tiongson : I’d say they’re doing things right to collaborate with you and your team. And certainly, speaking on the theme of champagne and adult beverages, you’ve got a really cool partner that’s joining the team this year with Day Chaser that’s going to be on your firesuit and your pit crew’s firesuit for this year. So, there’s a lot of buzz and excitement with newness this year. Seems like a theme. So, what’s it like to bring in a new sponsor like them into NASCAR and potentially introduce them to new fans that may not be aware of their brand?
There’s no need for Alex Bowman to be chasing after a Day Chaser this year. (Photo: Hendrick Motorsports)
Bowman : Yeah, it’s really cool. So that kind of… for me, to bring a sponsor like that into the sport and a brand like that into the sport is so neat. I wish we could have announced it sooner, because I enjoyed my fair share of Day Chaser at the Chili Bowl. But, yeah, it’s awesome. I’m really looking forward to that, teaming up with them. Definitely really enjoy the cranberry one. That’s my favorite. We had a couple cases of those at Chili Bowl, and we came back with none. So they’re definitely a good time, and cool to bring a new partner on board. It’s really neat.
Tiongson : I’d say having a product that you can actually enjoy makes it even more authentic, and the fact you finished it this past weekend sounds pretty convincing for the fans to give it a shot during the year as the season picks up. And speaking of this season that’s coming up, there’s so much buzz about the new Next-Gen car, the new refit at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and of course, just the fact that you guys are going to have your first exhibition race in a football stadium, the LA Coliseum hosting the Busch Light Clash.
So, I mean, what’s your thoughts on being one of those key factors that will hopefully bring in new fans to the sport, like what NASCAR went through in 2001?
Bowman : Yeah, there’s so many things changing right now. It’s pretty cool to watch. Atlanta’s going to be really interesting. Obviously, I think a lot of drivers really enjoyed the old surface, but going to something new is exciting as well. So, I haven’t really talked to many people that were there for the test, so excited to kind of learn how that went. And then the Coliseum is going to be crazy. I can’t wait to see that.
I ran the East race at Bowman Gray Stadium, 10 years ago now, I guess it was, and the cars actually raced really well there. And obviously, it’s an extremely similar racetrack. So, excited to see how that works out. Really interesting, the process on how they built the track kind of as a temporary track on top of… I guess they put wood down underneath the asphalt, right, and then paved it, or something like that. So, so many interesting factors are going into that race.
And to take a new racecar there that we’ve never raced before, on a type of racetrack that the Cup Series hasn’t been to in a really long time, it’s going to be really exciting. So, I hope we pack the house and put on a great show for all the fans, because it’s going to be wild, for sure.
Tiongson : Wild is definitely a good way to describe it. I mean, just the fact that you’ll have a lot of celebrities at the racetrack, too, and a pretty good half-time performer at the track, I think that’s going to be enticing as it is, to say the least. Now, when I talk to folks in the garage area about Hendrick Motorsports, the word family is used a lot, and I’d say it’s pretty authentic to describing the team culture. But, what’s some of the principles of racing with Hendrick that you’ve embraced in your life, professionally and personally?
One of the ways that Bowman does things right is with a great ally in Jeff Gordon. (Photo: Michael Guariglia | The Podium Finish)
Bowman : I think the biggest thing is how well we work together as a team. I feel like all four teams communicate so well together. Everything’s an open notebook. Everything’s shared. And I think that’s why we have four teams that all won races last year, and four teams that were all in the Playoffs, and ran really strong each and every week.
So, just how that communication has grown over time since I’ve been there is really great, and I think is a key part of the success that we’ve had. And then, just how Mr. H kind of leads the company, and now with Jeff Gordon taking on a bigger leadership role, just how they kind of approach things and lead things. I just try to learn from them, and, yeah, just be a sponge when they’re around, right? Learn all I can. So, it’s been really cool to get to drive for Hendrick Motorsports.
It’s a dream come true, and all aspects of it is awesome. But just how the leadership leads that company, and how well the communication works is really the biggest takeaways that I have.
Tiongson : You’ve been coming up pretty quickly on your sixth or seventh year now with the Hendrick organization, which doesn’t feel like that, because I swear I was at New Hampshire when they announced you as the emergency driver for the No. 88 car at the time. But, here we are.
You’re coming up on that milestone with Hendrick. So, how do you perceive your evolution and journey, not only with Hendrick, but just being a racecar driver?
No doubt that Bowman thrives by learning via experiences. (Photo: Stephen Conley | The Podium Finish)
Bowman : Yeah, definitely. I think I try to just do things that make me a better racecar driver each and every week, or each and every day. So, I’ve definitely, recently, I feel like, changed my process a little bit just in trying to race more. Race more things. I’m going to race the sprint car a lot this year. Just trying to be in the seat as much as I possibly can, and get out of my comfort zone.
I think driving that new Cup car is going to push a lot of us out of our comfort zones. I feel like we all were to a point where we could drive the old car really hard, and way over the limit, and get away with a lot of things, whereas we’re not going to be able to do that with the new car.
So, just trying to do things that get myself out of my comfort zone. Trying to train as hard as I can, and do things that make me better on Sunday. So, I feel like I’ve gotten better and continued to improve each year, but definitely still want more.
Tiongson : Absolutely. I’ve got a couple more questions here before we wrap things up. Now, I’m going to give you a fun question here. If you had to put yourself in my shoes as a journalist, and you had to describe Alex Bowman, the racecar driver, what three words would you choose, and why?
Bowman seems laid back as he’ll describe himself. (Photo: Hendrick Motorsports)
Bowman : That’s always a tough one. I don’t ever really like describing myself. But I feel like I’m pretty patient on the racetrack. I feel like I’m really impatient with things off the racetrack. But on the racetrack, I can be pretty patient. I feel like I’m typically pretty calculated. I don’t know. Three? Three’s a lot. I don’t know. I got two, is that good enough?
Tiongson : We’ll take two for now. I was going to say, probably not a fan of the snow that fell in the Charlotte area.
Bowman : I love snow! Big fan of snow.
Tiongson : Oh, really?
Bowman : Yeah. Big snow fan. I’d rather… like, mountains or beach, I’m going with mountains and winter sports. So, I’m a big fan of snow. The only problem with the snow was I couldn’t get home. So, I was stuck in Tulsa, because Charlotte airport was closed. So, that was kind of a bummer. But, got home a day late. Wasn’t too bad.
Tiongson : There you go. And you probably had more of that Day Chaser beverage to kind of help with the delay there. That’s surprising to meet a NASCAR driver who loves snow. I was going to say, most of y’all don’t like that, so that’s a good little story right there.
Obviously, I’m sure your expectations are to make the Playoffs and win this year’s championship. But, I mean, this year’s Daytona 500 just seems to have so much pageantry in terms of everything that’s going to be happening this year.
So, given the fact that your team and organization is having to come off this amazing year, how special would it be for you to win this year’s Daytona 500?
Perhaps Bowman’s No. 48 Ally Chevy will emerge victorious at Daytona.
Bowman : I’d be pretty pumped if we just finished, to be honest with you. Over the last couple years, the speedway stuff has been pretty rough on us. But, yeah, absolutely. I would love to win the Daytona 500, especially this year. Any year, I’ll take it. But this year’s the closest one, so I’m good with it.
I think we’re always fast at speedways. We’re always up front, and then we typically crash. But if we can stay out of trouble, I know we’ll have a shot at it.
Obviously, it’s going to look different this year with the new racecar. Trying to understand what that’s going to look like is going to be key, and just trying to do what we can to be out in front of it.
Editor’s Notes
Special thanks to Alex Bowman for taking the time for his latest “Hot Seat” interview, our first interview of 2022! Also, special thanks to Jaret Arneson and Hendrick Motorsports for their assistance with this interview on The Podium Finish!
You can keep track of Alex Bowman on his Facebook and Twitter accounts, his official website and here on TPF! Stay tuned for Alex’s appearance on TPF Live! on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcasting platforms along with St. Bonaventure’s “The Buzz” WSBU 88.3 FM soon!
