The answer to the big question is finally here. Neither of the two HMS drivers was able to seize a playoff spot this year. Although they were parked next to each other as they started Saturday’s race at Daytona, the checkered flag did not fall into the hands of either of the two Hendrick Motorsports icons.

Although Chase Elliott‘s number 9 Chevrolet qualified for the NASCAR Cup Series team owners’ championship, not being in the playoffs for the first time in his career with Rick Hendrick. Alex Bowman was, however, thankful for different reasons and looked at the brighter side of things.

The #48 driver felt like they could make a comeback once they regained momentum

Bowman said that they were running pretty well before he and his teammate Chase Elliott suffered from injuries earlier this season. Moreover, Chase Elliott paid the price of missing an additional race for wrecking Denny Hamlin in the Coca-Cola 600. Considering all of that, Saturday’s race was not the worst day for Team Hendrick.

Bowman said, “It’s good to run well, maybe 5 spots better. But it could have gotten a lot worse so, we just got to keep executing.”

The 30-year-old Arizona native exclaimed that their biggest goal for the following ten weeks would be to get back to the momentum that Hendrick Motorsports had before the mishaps with him and Chase. He said, “We showed what we’re capable of (at) the beginning of the season before I got hurt and since then we really haven’t. Need to get back to that.”

Although both secured a top 10 finish for the team, Chase being fourth and Bowman being 6th, Elliott and Bowman regretted being unable to utilize the aerodynamic draft from Kevin Harvick‘s number 4 Ford Mustang. Both of them made their halts down the pit road in lap 146 for a quick refueling. But when Ryan Preece flipped during the latter half of the race, the two drivers drove down the inside lane in line with each other.

Watch his story: Chase Elliott’s Biggest Fan Might’ve Ended Up Getting Him a 1-Race Ban As Denny Hamlin Used Him in His Appeal to NASCAR

While talking to the reporter, Bowman expressed his take on the scary 10-flip accident.

“Never need to see that kind of thing here, ” said Alex Bowman

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When 40 cars rev their engines at full throttle and battle for the coveted first place, the chances of horrendous accidents are high. And when a madhouse like Daytona hosts a 500-mile-long race, the probability of contact just goes through the roof.

On lap 156, Erik Jones made contact with Ryan Preece’s car, which made the latter turn turtle more than 10 times. Preece’s car hit teammate Chase Briscoe in turn. However, the damage to Preece was the scariest. That contact whirled Preece sideways through the turn 3 grass. And the air got underneath his car and flipped him, starting a horrific roll.

Rick Hendrick’s #48 driver said that he did not see much of it. He was thankful that he did not get caught up in the accident. Although he admitted to not having watched the replays, Bowman shuddered, merely looking at it from the driver’s seat.

Alex Bowman said, “Anytime you leave with a clean race car is a big positive thing… Hopefully, he is doing alright. Never need to see that kind of thing here.”

Read more: “A Complete 180” – HMS Superstar Alex Bowman Still Not Recovered From His Injury