{"id":47270,"date":"2024-07-07T22:00:03","date_gmt":"2024-07-08T03:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=47270"},"modified":"2024-07-14T13:39:44","modified_gmt":"2024-07-14T18:39:44","slug":"alex-bowman-earns-nascar-cup-playoff-berth-with-strategic-chicago-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2024\/07\/07\/alex-bowman-earns-nascar-cup-playoff-berth-with-strategic-chicago-win\/","title":{"rendered":"Alex Bowman earns NASCAR Cup Playoff berth with strategic Chicago win"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

Alex Bowman, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Grant Park 165 at Chicago Street Course on July 07, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

CHICAGO\u2014On a wet-and-dry day on the streets of Chicago, crew chief Blake Harris made the right call, and driver Alex Bowman promised to wet his whistle after ending an 80-race drought.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Alex Bowman, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, crosses the finish line to win the NASCAR Cup Series Grant Park 165 at Chicago Street Course on July 07, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cThe last time we won, we didn\u2019t really get to celebrate\u2014we\u2019re going to drink so much damn bourbon tonight,\u201d said Bowman, who clinched a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with his victory in Sunday\u2019s Grant Park 165 at the Chicago Street Race.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to be a bad deal. I\u2019m probably going to wake up naked on the bathroom floor again. That\u2019s just part of this deal sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Driving the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Bowman claimed the eighth victory of his career with a pass of sports car ace Joey Hand on Lap 51\u2014moments before Josh Berry plowed into the tire barrier in Turn 2 of the 2.2-mile, 12-turn course to cause the fifth and final caution.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Alex Bowman, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Grant Park 165 at Chicago Street Course on July 07, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Meg Oliphant\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

At that point, the race was on the clock, thanks to a heavy rain that had caused a lengthy stoppage after Lap 25. Facing a deadline of 8:20 p.m., with two laps to follow that point in the race, Bowman held off runner-up Tyler Reddick to win an event shortened from 75 to 58 laps because of the delay.<\/p>\n

Harris got his first win as a crew chief by keeping Bowman out on older wet tires after the final caution. Neither Christopher Bell, who arguably had the best car in the race, nor Reddick could catch Bowman over the closing laps.<\/p>\n

Bell\u2019s charge to the front was blunted by a five-car melee, and Reddick nicked the wall and lost momentum on the final lap.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 Valvoline Chevrolet, and Ty Gibbs, driver of the #54 Monster Energy Toyota, lead the field on a pace lap prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Grant Park 165 at Chicago Street Course on July 07, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cWe were catching Alex by a large margin there, and, I don’t know, that puzzles me,\u201d said Reddick, who finished second for the second straight week. \u201cI clearly just screwed up. Trying to stay in the dry groove, and I had more than enough of dry groove\u2026 I cut the wheel a little too hard.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bowman crossed the finish line with a 3.447-second edge over Reddick to score his first win since March 6, 2022 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.<\/p>\n

\u201cMan, I broke my back (in a sprint car accident), had a brain injury, and we’ve kind of sucked ever since,\u201d Bowman said. \u201cI didn’t\u2026 you start to second-guess if you’re ever going to get a chance to win a race again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"

Ty Gibbs, driver of the #54 Monster Energy Toyota, and Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 Valvoline Chevrolet, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Grant Park 165 at Chicago Street Course on July 07, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by James Gilbert\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Enhancing Bowman\u2019s opportunity on Sunday was the ill fortune that befell the top two contenders.<\/p>\n

Halfway through the restart lap for Stage 2 (Lap 25), the complexion of the race changed dramatically. Chase Briscoe, out of control in his No. 14 Ford, slid toward the tire barrier in Turn 6 and clipped the rear of the Chevrolet of defending winner Shane van Gisbergen.<\/p>\n

The impact propelled van Gisbergen\u2019s Camaro nose-first into the outside wall at the exit from the corner, and the car came to rest, unable to continue. Van Gisbergen\u2019s exit suddenly raised the stakes for the drivers who trailed him to the finish line in Stage 1.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 Valvoline Chevrolet, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Grant Park 165 at Chicago Street Course on July 07, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by James Gilbert\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

After leaving the infield care center, van Gisbergen watched a replay of the incident.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust sort of turned in, looked pretty good and then just got smashed by someone (Briscoe),\u201d the New Zealander said. \u201cJust gutting. The car was really good. We were in the lead for a lot of that race and, you know, felt good taking off in the rain. That sucks\u2014an unfortunate mistake by him, but I\u2019m sure he didn\u2019t mean it.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut, yeah, when he just clipped me, there was nothing I could do. Of course I\u2019m disappointed. We had a pretty amazing Camaro there\u2026 I felt like I was driving well within myself. It\u2019s a shame to be out so early and a shame we couldn\u2019t have a proper crack at it at the end.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"

Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 McDonald’s Toyota, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Grant Park 165 at Chicago Street Course on July 07, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by James Gilbert\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

By the time Briscoe delivered the coup de grace to the No. 16 Chevy, Gibbs had wrested the lead from Zane Smith, who stayed out on older wet tires, and Bell, who was first off pit road during the stage break.<\/p>\n

The field didn\u2019t complete Lap 25 before NASCAR called the second caution of the race for heavy rain. After a red-flag period of 1 hour, 43 minutes, one second, the race resumed and went green on Lap 31, with Bell retaking the lead from Gibbs before completion of that circuit.<\/p>\n

On Lap 34, pole winner Kyle Larson, in pursuit of Gibbs, hydroplaned into the Turn 6 tire barrier, damaging his No. 5 Chevrolet beyond repair.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 CRAFTSMAN Racing For A Miracle Toyota, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Grant Park 165 at Chicago Street Course on July 07, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Meg Oliphant\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

In a race where late strategic calls scrambled the field, Gibbs led a race-high 17 laps and came home third, followed by Hand and Michael McDowell. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Todd Gilliland, William Byron, Kyle Busch and Ryan Blaney completed the top 10.<\/p>\n

Bell led 14 circuits, but he, Gibbs and Reddick pitted for slick tires on Lap 43 and couldn\u2019t get back to the front.<\/p>\n

For the second straight year, rain shortened the NASCAR Cup race at the Chicago Street Race, but the wet weather did little to diminish the festival atmosphere that captivated the Windy City throughout the weekend.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve raced about every street course in the country and a lot around the world, and you won\u2019t find a backdrop like this,\u201d said Hand, who led seven laps on wet tires before Bowman led the final eight.<\/p>\n

Interview:<\/h3>\n

NCS Race Winner Alex Bowman (No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) –<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

NCS Race Winning Team Blake Harris (crew chief) and Jeff Gordon –<\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/HarrisGordon070724.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Second through fifth place finishers: Ty Gibbs (No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota), Michael McDowell (No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford), Tyler Reddick (No. 45 23XI Toyota), Joey Hand (No. 60 RFK Racing Ford) –<\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/NCSCSRGibbsMcDowellReddickHand070724.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

NASCAR Cup Series Race – Grant Park 165<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chicago Street Race<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chicago, Illinois<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sunday, July 7, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n

                  1. (8)  Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 58.<\/p>\n

                  2. (4)  Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 58.<\/p>\n

                  3. (2)  Ty Gibbs, Toyota, 58.<\/p>\n

                  4. (38)  Joey Hand, Ford, 58.<\/p>\n

                  5. (3)  Michael McDowell, Ford, 58.<\/p>\n

                  6. (33)  Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 58.<\/p>\n

                  7. (26)  Todd Gilliland, Ford, 58.<\/p>\n

                  8. (27)  William Byron, Chevrolet, 58.<\/p>\n

                  9. (19)  Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 58.<\/p>\n

                  10. (17)  Ryan Blaney, Ford, 58.<\/p>\n

                  11. (9)  Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 58.<\/p>\n

                  12. (35)  Daniel Hemric, Chevrolet, 58.<\/p>\n

                  13. (6)  Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 58.<\/p>\n

                  14. (28)  Noah Gragson, Ford, 58.<\/p>\n

                  15. (21)  Austin Cindric, Ford, 58.<\/p>\n

                  16. (23)  Justin Haley, Ford, 58.<\/p>\n

                  17. (30)  Zane Smith #, Chevrolet, 58.<\/p>\n

                  18. (10)  Brad Keselowski, Ford, 58.<\/p>\n

                  19. (15)  Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 58.<\/p>\n

                  20. (16)  Chris Buescher, Ford, 58.<\/p>\n

                  21. (18)  Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 58.<\/p>\n

                  22. (14)  Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 58.<\/p>\n

                  23. (32)  Joey Logano, Ford, 58.<\/p>\n

                  24. (13)  Carson Hocevar #, Chevrolet, 58.<\/p>\n

                  25. (31)  Harrison Burton, Ford, 58.<\/p>\n

                  26. (40)  Kaz Grala #, Ford, 58.<\/span><\/p>\n

                  27. (20)  Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet, 58.<\/span><\/p>\n

                  <\/span>28. (39)  Josh Bilicki(i), Ford, 58.<\/p>\n

                  29. (25)  Erik Jones, Toyota, 58.<\/p>\n

                  30. (11)  Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 58.<\/span><\/p>\n

                  <\/span>31. (34)  Austin Hill(i), Chevrolet, 58.<\/p>\n

                  32. (22)  Chase Briscoe, Ford, 58.<\/p>\n

                  33. (24)  Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 58.<\/p>\n

                  34. (29)  Ryan Preece, Ford, 58.<\/p>\n

                  35. (12)  John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota, 57.<\/p>\n

                  36. (36)  Josh Berry #, Ford, 57.<\/p>\n

                  37. (7)  Christopher Bell, Toyota, Accident, 55.<\/p>\n

                  38. (37)  AJ Allmendinger(i), Chevrolet, Accident, 48.<\/p>\n

                  39. (1)  Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, Accident, 33.<\/p>\n

                  40. (5)  Shane Van Gisbergen(i), Chevrolet, Accident, 24.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  54.921 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  2 Hrs, 19 Mins, 24 Secs. Margin of Victory:  2.863 Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  5 for 19 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  9 among 6 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   K. Larson 0;T. Gibbs 1-11;S. Van Gisbergen(i) 12-14;C. Bell 15;S. Van Gisbergen(i) 16-21;Z. Smith # 22-24;T. Gibbs 25-30;C. Bell 31-43;*. Hand 44-50;A. Bowman 51-58.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Ty Gibbs 2 times for 17 laps; Christopher Bell 2 times for 14 laps; Shane Van Gisbergen(i) 2 times for 9 laps; Alex Bowman 1 time for 8 laps; * Joey Hand 1 time for 7 laps; Zane Smith # 1 time for 3 laps.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 16,20,54,14,5,48,23,38,45,99<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 60,48,6,77,19,10,31,47,21,11<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service CHICAGO\u2014On a wet-and-dry day on the streets of Chicago, crew chief Blake Harris made the right call, and driver Alex Bowman promised to wet his whistle after ending an 80-race drought. \u201cThe last time we won, we didn\u2019t really get to celebrate\u2014we\u2019re going to drink so much damn […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":47284,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[11],"tags":[491,942,16],"class_list":["post-47270","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-alex-bowman","tag-chicago-street-race","tag-nascar"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/GettyImages-2161075597-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1731&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-ciq","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47270","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47270"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47270\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47291,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47270\/revisions\/47291"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/47284"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47270"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47270"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47270"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}