AUSTIN, Texas: Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman saw an opening on the last lap of Sunday’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix but as quickly as the move vaulted him from third to the race lead, his second NASCAR Cup Series win of the season was snatched coming to the final two turns of the race.
While Ross Chastain and AJ Allmendinger tussled for the control of the race, Bowman snuck by outside in Turn 17 – and while Bowman was setting himself for entry into Turn 19, Chastain gave Allmendinger a nudge which spun Allmendinger’s No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE into Bowman knocking his No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro sideways and opening the door for Chastain to escape the chaos with the race lead and win.
Bowman recovered to finish second, 1.331-seconds behind fellow Chevrolet driver Chastain.
After the race, Bowman was visibly frustrated about the finish – but was thankful to record his second top-five finish of the season.
“Just really proud of my team,” said Bowman. “I’ve worked so hard to be a better road course racer and I feel we’re heading that direction. Really proud of Ross (Chastain). He’s super aggressive, right, but I’ve been on that side of that, too. Happy to see him get his first win.”
While Bowman had hoped to celebrate his eighth career Cup Series win, he took solace on Sunday knowing that Chastain has worked hard to become a Cup Series winner.
“He’s a friend,” Bowman offered of Chastain. “He is a pain in the ass to race with but I tell him that all the time. Just happy for him. I’m on the wrong side of it, but just I know what he’s feeling right now and I’m pumped for him and all the work he’s put in for this.”
With his third top-10 finish of the season in the books, Bowman said he had been trying to do a better job executing a road course and from where he started the weekend to the checkered flag, he accomplished his goal.
“For sure, just we had a really fast No. 48 Ally Camaro,” he added. “I’ve been trying to do a better job as a race car driver at these road courses, and I felt like from where we started the weekend, I accomplished that. So proud of Greg (Ives, crew chief) and all the guys.”
Bowman was hoping a win at COTA would make up from a chaotic finish in the Truck Series XPEL 225 on Saturday afternoon where he challenged for the win but contact while battling Stewart Friesen and Kyle Busch for the lead shuffled Bowman back slightly in the running order and eventually found himself spun on the last lap and finishing 25th.
“Hate that we can’t come away with a win, but happy for Ross getting his first win. It’s been a crap weekend, so I’m ready to get home and see the dogs and move on to next weekend. Glad to come away with a second-place finish.”
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
