CONCORD, N.C. – For the first-time in his NASCAR Cup Series career and in his first full season driving for Hendrick Motorsports, Alex Bowman will be joining the 16-driver, 10-race NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
Though he didn’t have the race he hoped for in Monday afternoon’s regular-season finale at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, earning a 33rd-place finish, the fact that he clinched his first career playoff berth still made for a special moment.
“It’s frustrating after a day like this,” Bowman said after the race, “but it’s just cool to be a part of it.”
For the 25-year-old driver, several playoff scenarios existed heading into Monday’s Brickyard 400.
If there was a repeat winner, or a win by Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, Aric Almirola or Jimmie Johnson, Bowman was in.
However, if there was a new winner from behind him in the playoff standings, his spot was in danger.
“I was watching the scoreboard a little bit,” Bowman acknowledged. “If somebody else wins, we can’t control that.”
Once Brad Keselowski, a repeat winner, took the checkered flag, Bowman’s playoff spot was secured.
Starting the event in 15th, Bowman’s progress was derailed in Stage 2 after he was involved in a multiple-car incident that sent him into the wall after contact by a competitor.
“Hate it for my guys, hate it for the No. 47 as well,” the driver said of the incident. “I don’t know if I came down on his door too much or if he just got loose. Whatever it was, it’s a bummer for both of us. I hate that, but, we’ll move on from it.”
With hard work from the No. 88 team, the damage to Bowman’s No. 88 Axalta Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 was repaired and the driver reached the minimum speed within the five-minute time limit, allowing him to stay in the race and return to pit road several times for more repairs.
He was shuffled down to 36th, but Bowman continued to battle to the end of the race to finish 33rd.
“We didn’t save our good day, but at least we finished, and we’ll move on to Vegas,” he said.
Bowman credited the No. 88 team and all of his Hendrick Motorsports teammates on campus for their hard work in helping him earn his first career postseason birth.
“It means a lot to have made the playoffs in my first year back and first year with Hendrick Motorsports,” Bowman said. “I think it’s a testament to this No. 88 team – it’s a really strong group of guys. And everybody back in the shop has done a great job improving all year. Obviously, it’s a little tough to be excited after how today went, but we’ll keep improving at it and hopefully make some noise in the playoffs.”