Alex Bowman put collectively a near-perfect race at Homestead-Miami Speedway as he continues a really sturdy begin to his 2025 season. Watching from atop the No. 48 pit field was NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon, who presently works because the vice chairman at Hendrick Motorsports.
Bowman earned pole place and was a constant contender all through your complete occasion, main 43 laps. Nevertheless, his teammate Kyle Larson was set on denying him that race win. He was quickly closing on Bowman late within the race, who tried to regulate his line earlier than entering into the surface wall, which allowed Larson to finish the move for the lead with six laps to go.
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Photograph by: Chris Graythen – Getty Pictures
“Hear, I believe this efficiency all weekend, to have that strong of a weekend pole — pit stops had been nice. They had been principally within the high 5 all day lengthy, led a bunch of laps,” stated Gordon within the post-race press convention.
“, to be main on the finish, contending, that does so much for a race crew. I believe we noticed the momentum constructing with that crew final yr, on the finish of final yr. You simply hope that they will construct on that and carry that into the season, and I believe they’ve. You have to get the outcomes.
“So I believe at the moment was an necessary day for them, and I believe you will see that create fairly a spark to hopefully get them on a run.”
Dealing with the strain
Bowman has some huge expectations to dwell as much as, surrounded by two NASCAR Cup Collection champions and a two-time Daytona 500 winner. Over the previous 4 seasons, he has at all times been the bottom Hendrick Motorsports driver within the ultimate championship standings. He is additionally driving the No. 48, which Jimmie Johnson took to seven NASCAR Cup Collection titles between 2006 and 2016.
The 31-year-old has additionally been hindered by some accidents, struggling a concussion late within the 2022 season and fracturing a vertebra in a dash automotive crash just some months after that.
Assist from HMS
Though there are unsubstantiated rumors that continuously seem concerning his future at Hendrick Motorsports, Gordon asserted on Sunday that the group has labored arduous to ensure Bowman “is aware of he is acquired the assist behind him.”
This consists of bolstering the No. 48 crew from the within and discovering the precise individuals to attain the success desired by a top-level crew like HMS.
“, I believe when you examine them to the opposite Hendrick groups, Blake [Harris, crew chief] was form of one of many steps, after which he is been engaged on automotive chief and the pit crew and simply placing all of the items collectively.
Watch: Alex Bowman: ‘Choked that one away’ in Homestead runner-up
“Alex and he have at all times been on the identical web page and have quite a lot of confidence in each other. However when a crew has the arrogance that the group is behind their strikes and supporting them and the sponsors are there for them, it is, Hey, take all these issues off to the facet. Don’t be concerned about that. Simply go and make your race automobiles the perfect you may make them. Drive the automotive the perfect you possibly can. Prep the perfect you possibly can. Mentally, bodily simply be able to go capitalize when the day goes properly.
“I believe that’s actually what I am seeing this yr in them, but in addition what you noticed at the moment.”
Bowman is definitely off to a robust begin, sitting third within the factors standings with 5 top-fives within the first six races of the yr. Gordon went on to obviously state “that is our man” when requested concerning the exterior noise round Bowman. Gordon was additionally one of many first to reach on the No. 48 automotive after the Homestead end, providing assist to Bowman whereas his different driver celebrated on the frontstretch.
Learn Additionally:
On this article
Nick DeGroot
NASCAR Cup
Jeff Gordon
Alex Bowman
Hendrick Motorsports
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