HAMPTON, Ga.: Alex Bowman was looking for momentum to continue in the Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway after finishing in the second place in the Daytona 500.
Unfortunately, the No.48 Ally Chevrolet driver, who began the race in 17th position, didn’t have a chance to get very far at the beginning of the race, as a wreck involving seventeen cars happened on the second lap. Martin Truex Jr would spin Austin Dillon and the melee would ensue behind them, collecting Bowman.
With all four of the tires flat and damage to the front ride side of the nose of his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Bowman would need assistance getting to pit road. However, the tow truck driver told Bowman that they were not going to bring him to pit road. Luckily, they relented and brought him to pit road.
Returning to the track five laps down and in the 37th position, Bowman would tell his team, “I got a little vibration, but we’re good.”
The team would tell the Tucson, Arizona native that they would continue to work on the car, and with the benefit of two additional cautions before the end of Stage 1, they would attempt to fix the Ally Chevy.
By the end of Stage 1, Bowman gained three positions but still remained five laps behind the leaders.
Looking for a drafting partner in an attempt to earn back laps, Bowman tried to get together with the Legacy Motor Club drivers, but they could not keep the pace that he needed.
Prior to coming to pit road on Lap 128, the team communicated to Bowman that they were going to have to run until they were out of fuel in hopes of gaining position.
Pitting, the Hendrick Motorsports driver would get a set of Goodyear tires and fuel, but Bowman tells them to leave the car as it is for where they are running.
Starting in the 31st position for the beginning of Stage 3, Bowman’s mission was to push his teammate William Byron forward with the intent of getting the free pass, but once again, the caution would come out.
Bowman would relay to the team that at the pace he was going the car gets tight in the bottom of turns three and four. The team acknowledges him and tells him to save all the fuel he can in anticipation of future cautions.
Sure enough, the caution would come back out several more times before the end of the race and Bowman gained valuable positions on the track finishing the race in 27th place.
“Tough day today for the No.48 team here at Atlanta (Motor Speedway), Bowman said after the race. “We got caught in the first incident on the second lap and were stuck waiting on a tow(truck).”
Staying positive Bowman added, “Went a couple laps down but our Ally team was able to gain back a couple positions by the end of the race by staying out of trouble.
Determined to move forward, “We’ll put it behind us and come back ready in the fall. (My) eyes are set on Vegas now.”
Next up for Alex Bowman is the Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday March 3, 2024, at 3:30 pm E.T.
Follow Grace Krenrich on Twitter @grace3140 or email at [email protected]
