Between Bowman’s seventh and eighth career Cup wins, he faced challenges with a concussion and later a back injury.
The driver of the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Bowman, 31, struggled through tough times but bounced back with a remarkable win in rainy conditions on the streets of Chicago, securing his spot in the playoffs.
A week later at Pocono, Bowman almost clinched another victory. He had previously triumphed at Pocono in 2021. Starting sixth, he stayed near the front throughout the race.
Towards the end, Bowman moved into the top-five after two of his Hendrick Motorsports teammates, Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson, were penalized for speeding on pit road. He even lined up on the front row for the final restart, with a real chance to win. However, he couldn’t overtake Ryan Blaney, who went on to win. Bowman then slipped back, finishing third.
“It’s hard to feel satisfied when you restart on the front row for the last restart and can’t get the job done,” Bowman shared in a post-race interview. “I’m proud of everyone on our No. 48 team. We struggled with traffic a lot. We made most of our adjustments based on traffic, then got too loose towards the end when we had some clear track… Congratulations to the 12 car. It was a good, solid day for us.”
Despite missing out on victory, Bowman believes this could mark the beginning of a potential championship run for the No. 48 team.
“I think there are still things we need to improve, things I need to improve, and our team overall. There’s always room for growth. At least we’re heading in the right direction. It’s been a good two weeks for us. Next week, we’re going to a historic racetrack that means a lot to me. Hopefully, we can get the job done there.”
