Alex Bowman’s Rollercoaster 2024 Season: Redemption, Controversy, and Missed Opportunities
2024 was a year of highs and lows for Alex Bowman in the NASCAR Cup Series. After a two-year drought since his last win at Las Vegas in 2022, the #48 Hendrick Motorsports driver finally returned to Victory Lane at the Chicago Street Course, securing his playoff spot. Yet, despite his strong performances, a controversial elimination at the Charlotte Roval dashed his hopes of advancing to the Round of 8, leaving fans wondering what could have been.
A Season of Redemption and Resilience
Bowman entered 2024 needing to prove himself. His recent seasons had been plagued by setbacks, including a concussion in 2022 at Texas Motor Speedway and a fractured vertebra in 2023 during a High Limit Racing event at 34 Raceway in Iowa. These injuries caused him to miss significant time, and he struggled to regain form, failing to win or make the playoffs in 2023.
His victory in Chicago was a turning point, ending a dry spell and offering a glimpse of the potential that Rick Hendrick had always believed in. Bowman advanced through the Round of 16 and looked poised to make a deep playoff run.
Controversy at the Roval: A Playoff Heartbreaker
The Charlotte Roval proved to be the season’s defining moment. Bowman finished the race in a position that would have secured him a spot in the Round of 8, narrowly knocking out Joey Logano. However, a post-race inspection revealed that Bowman’s #48 Chevrolet was underweight, leading to his disqualification. Logano was reinstated and went on to dominate the playoffs, ultimately clinching his third Cup Series championship.
Reflecting on the disqualification, Bowman told Racer, “It certainly was disappointing and (it’s) part of racing sometimes. That stuff is going to happen, and unfortunately, we let it happen. It didn’t really change much of what we were doing; I think we continued to operate at a high level.”
Hendrick Motorsports accepted the penalty, acknowledging their mistake:
“After a thorough review by our team and the sanctioning body, we simply did not give ourselves enough margin to meet the post-race requirement. Although unintentional, the infraction was avoidable. We are extremely disappointed to lose a playoff spot under these circumstances and apologize to our fans and partners.”
The 2024 Playoffs: A Strong Showing Despite Setbacks
Despite the disappointment, Bowman’s playoff performance was commendable. He secured five Top 10 finishes in 10 playoff races, including an impressive run without power steering at Martinsville, where he finished 13th. “Obviously, Phoenix didn’t go how we wanted it to, but other than that, I felt like we did a really good job the rest of the season,” Bowman shared.
Bowman ended the season 9th in the drivers’ standings, his best finish since 2020, when he placed 6th. His consistency, including seven Top 5 finishes and a near win at the Daytona 500, proved he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level.
What Could Have Been: Bowman’s Missed Opportunity
The disqualification at the Roval not only cost Bowman a shot at the championship but also allowed Logano to capitalize, winning back-to-back races at Vegas and Phoenix to secure his title. Bowman, left to ponder what might have been, now shifts his focus to 2025, hoping to build on his redemption arc and avoid the setbacks that marred his 2024 campaign.
Bowman’s Fight for Respect at Hendrick Motorsports
As Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, and William Byron consistently contend for championships, Bowman is often seen as the underdog within the powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports lineup. However, his triumph in Chicago and his resilience throughout the season showed that he is more than capable of holding his own.
With 2025 on the horizon, Bowman faces a pivotal year. Will he silence the critics and establish himself as a consistent contender, or will the setbacks of 2024 continue to cast a shadow over his career? Only time will tell, but one thing is clear—Alex Bowman is far from finished.
