Will Alex Bowman “The Showman” Wow At Cup Series Bristol Dirt Race?

Alex Bowman pursues his first victory of the season at Bristol. (Photo: Trish McCormack | The Podium Finish)

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman has proven his ability to race on both pavement and dirt.

After a slew of NASCAR issued penalties, the No. 48 driver needs a win to not only seal his team into the playoffs, but to help alleviate the 60 point deficit inflicted by said recent penalties. 

Bowman’s fellow teammates, Kyle Larson of the No. 5 and William Byron of the No. 24, have already won this season, punching their tickets into the Playoffs. With teammate Chase Elliot of the No. 9 currently sidelined due to a broken leg, Bowman needs to snag a win sooner than later.

On Saturday evening, NASCAR used four qualifying heat races in order to determine the starting grid for Sunday’s race. Starting second in the first qualifying heat, Bowman was against some heavy competition with dirt track pros like Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Christopher Bell.

Ross Chastain, one of the sport’s current popular drivers, was in this heat. The 15 laps of racing action flew by with Austin Dillon of Richard Childress Racing winning the heat. Meanwhile, Bowman, in his No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, clinched fourth..

In a sport with so much competition, the pressure can be overwhelming at points. During interviews on Saturday, plenty of drivers shared similar feelings on how stressful racing can be at points. They all are eyeing for the same thing though and that is for a win and the ultimate goal – a NASCAR Cup Series Championship.

Bowman was insightful after being asked on how he would race a teammate if the two were fighting for the race win.

Bowman will try to exhibit his best Sunday etiquette with his Hendrick teammates. (Photo: Trish McCormack | The Podium Finish)

“I think for the four Hendrick cars, we all have to race each other really respectfully,” Bowman said. “And I feel like, you know, none of us are going to take each other out for a win, or do something that’s going to jeopardize the team. So definitely we got to race each other as cleanly as possible.”

The ability to race teammates cleanly with respect on paper may look easy, but in practice is easier said than done. Hendrick Motorsports has dealt with teammate beef before, with one of the most remembered being between Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson. Things did end peacefully, but the tension between the duo brought unnecessary stress and frustrations to the organization as a whole.

Having three starting poles so far in 2023 indicates Bowman is skilled with wheeling a racecar. He has finished no lower than 17th this season, showing he is not only consistent, but also able to race a large variety of tracks.

This has helped a great deal to lessen the blows of the penalties handed over, but as previously stated a win would solidify a spot into the playoffs. 

It is not so much of “will” the Arizona native wow with Sunday’s race, but how and what he can do in order to end up in Victory Lane.