Alex Bowman was back in the playoffs in 2024 after missing it the year before, but things were not easy for him.
Bowman’s playoffs started with him answering questions about his future with Hendrick Motorsports. For an hour or so after the Charlotte Roval race, he had advanced to the next round but that changed when his car was disqualified after not meeting the minimum weight requirement.
But there were good moments. Bowman had a career-high 17 top-10 finishes this past season and his victory at Chicago ended an 80-race winless streak.
CREW CHIEF: Blake Harris
TEAM: Hendrick Motorsports
POINTS: 9th
WINS: 1 (Chicago Street Race)
LAPS LED: 67
TOP 5s: 8
TOP 10s: 17
STARTS FROM POLE: 1 (Bristol II)
WHAT WENT RIGHT: Snapped an 80-race winless streak with his victory on the streets of Chicago. Bowman had a career-high 17 top-10 finishes and tied his career high of eight top fives. Had a streak of five consecutive top 10s in the spring. Advanced to the second round of the playoffs before he was eliminated. Had five top 10s in the playoffs.
WHAT WENT WRONG: Led only 67 laps, the fewest laps he has led in a season since 2015. Bowman advanced to the third round of the playoffs until his car was disqualified after it failed post-race inspection at the Charlotte Roval. That allowed eventual champion Joey Logano to advance.
ALEX BOWMAN SAID: “We showed up in the playoffs and did what everybody said we couldn’t do again. I wish we would have won some races through that stretch, but I feel like we operated at a really high level. Obviously had a really small, simple mistake (that) cost us greatly. That’s how racing goes sometimes. I feel like we all did a good job and worked really hard and really need to carry that as a baseline into 2025.”
WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2025: The goal is to take the next step. He won four races in 2021 but that is the only time he’s won more than one race in a season. He needs to do that, especially at Hendrick Motorsports. He also needs to lead more laps. He’s not led more than 137 laps in any of the three seasons with the Next Gen car.
