When the going gets tough, the tough get going– this proverb aptly fits the Hendrick Motorsports #48 team right now. After a grueling winless streak of 80 races, Bowman finally secured his spot in the playoffs with a thrilling win in Chicago. But we cannot miss that in order to get going, even the tough ones need support. Hence, Bowman didn’t reach the top alone. With the unwavering support of his team, sponsor Ally, and crew chief Blake Harris, Bowman was able to overcome injuries, setbacks, and most importantly, self-doubt. 

It takes the whole team to win a race 

Alex Bowman’s winless streak started in 2022 when a crash at the Texas Motor Speedway gave him a concussion. Post which Bowman was out for five races and could not bounce back as he was eliminated in the round of 12. To make matters worse, in 2023, Alex Bowman flipped his Sprint Car in a High Limit Racing event at 34 Raceway in Iowa. The flip cost Bowman a fractured vertebra and the season, as he did not make the playoffs after sitting out for three races. 

It all changed in 2024. The Hendrick driver’s 2024 win was his first since his victory in Las Vegas in March 2022. However, even before his Chicago win, Bowman looked like one of the most consistent drivers of 2024. The #48 has 12 top-10 and 6 top-five finishes. Also, his most recent third-place finish at Pocono marks the second time that Bowman scored two consecutive top-fives. 

But, what does it take to bounce back? It takes the whole team as Bowman shared on Dale Earnhardt Jr’s podcast, “To be able to do that meant a lot. Obviously to have Mr. H (Rick Hendrick) and Ally align and everybody stick behind me through some really difficult times. Super appreciative for the opportunity. Yeah to break the winless streak to get Blake his first win as a crew chief. To be able to overcome that means the world to me.”

Notably, Bowman’s strong relationship with his sponsor, Ally, played a huge role in his comeback. The #48 in the interview talked about Ally’s unfazed support, “They’ve really supported me through tough times but also supported things that mean a lot to me.” In 2023, the $13.03 Billion Worth Ally Financial and Hendrick Motorsports signed a five-year extension, seeing through 2028. They will continue the digital financial services company’s full-season primary sponsorship of Alex Bowman and the No. 48 NASCAR Cup Series team. 

The credit for his consistent performance goes to his team. And besides Ally, his crew chief needs a special mention.  

Alex Bowman’s team never lost faith

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Post the Chicago win, Bowman talked about his winless times and how he started to second-guess everything. He told NASCAR, “I didn’t … you start to second-guess if you’re ever going to get a chance to win a race again.” However, who brought his confidence back each time was his crew chief, Blake Harris. Harris in a post-match interview, shared how they navigated the storm, “I won’t ever forget this one. It’s been a challenge. A year and a half, we’ve been through a lot and had to fight, always fighting to get out of a hole, and there’s no hole anymore today.

Bowman’s Jackman, Allen Holman, echoed Harris’ words, as he believed the team deserved the win for the hard work they put in. “It’s definitely a relief, feels good because this team deserves this. We work hard every day, we come in there, I see the shop guys, engineers put in the work. The pit crew puts in the work.” shared Holman.

What we see on the track is just a small percentage of work. The real handwork is off the track in simulations and in practice sessions. According to Bowman’s car chief, Ty Spies, the #48’s never-quitting attitude is what led to the comeback. In an interview with NASCAR, he said, “I mean, the time he puts into the simulator, the time he puts in by himself, it’s everything he’s doing to try and make himself better. For it to finally come together after all this, he never once quit, even through his injuries and everything else. He’s always been trying to get back to winning, so to get back here today, it really speaks as a testament to how hard he works.”   

The continued teamwork that got Bowman the victory can also get him the championship. Who wouldn’t give it their all when your whole team believes in you?