Heading into the 2024 Chicago Street Race, Alex Bowman was hardly one of the favorites. Instead, the spotlight was trained on his ‘better performing’ Hendrick teammates, who were already locked into the playoffs. After all, before Bowman gave the Hendrick stable their eighth victory, Kyle Larson, William Byron & Chase Elliott had at least one win each exiting the 20th race weekend of the 2024 season.

Bowman won his 8th career Cup win at Chicago. That is special because: first, one must consider that he broke an 80-race winless streak at the 2024 Grant Park 165. And second, this is the very city that had gifted the Arizona native his debut Cup win in 2019 at the once-great Chicagoland Speedway.

Five years since the Hendrick life has been somewhat of a coin-flip tale for Jimmie Johnson’s #48 successor. From a literal back injury to his contract facing constant scrutiny, life has thrown more wrenches than one at Alex Bowman. But with some dues willfully repaid with a guaranteed playoff spot in Chi-city, even Hendrick icon-turned-Vice Chairman, Jeff Gordon confirmed Bowman’s long-term future in the #48 seat.

Alex Bowman’s redemption tour put in detail by Jeff Gordon

Alex Bowman and Hendrick Motorsports’ association goes back to 2016, all thanks to Dale Earnhardt Jr. After suffering severe symptoms of concussion injuries, Jr was unable to compete for almost half of that season. Bowman would take charge of the #88 at New Hampshire to make his official debut for Rick Hendrick’s race team. Interestingly, Jeff Gordon was the other driver to balance the rest of the schedule to replace Dale Jr alongside Bowman in the #88 seat.

Two years after retiring, Dale Jr. actively chose Alex Bowman to take over the #88 car full-time. His potential was evident right from the start as he made the playoffs three times in his three years driving Dale Jr’s former Hendrick Chevy. Yet, Bowman was to fill some big shoes again in 2021 when Mr 7x Jimmie Johnson retired from Hendrick Motorsports’ iconic #48 Chevy.

After only about 6 years in the Cup Series, Bowman had already replaced two absolute legends of the sport. That kind of attention most certainly leaves a young driver drenched in the spotlight. So, when the wins stopped coming after 2022 in Las Vegas, doubts were cast on his performances. His woes would only amplify after his concussion injury at Texas later that year deemed him unable to contend for the next 5 races, effectively killing the #48’s playoff chances for good. The following year in April, Bowman suffered a back injury from a sprint car crash in Iowa.

It is safe to say, that this Chicago win rightfully meant a lot to Bowman, as he told the audience post-race, “Everybody that said I couldn’t win and don’t deserve to be at Hendrick Motorsports and all that [expletive], cheers to you.” But Jeff Gordon struck the nail on the head when replying to a question by the media that went something like “I don’t know if you heard Alex’s NBC interview, but he mentioned the brain injury from two years ago, he mentioned the broken back last year. He sounded like a guy who basically had saved his job. I know we don’t deal in rumors and expectations, but there’s been a lot of chatter. How far does this win go toward shoring up his long-term future and securing him at Hendrick?” via Speedway Digest.

Seated alongside Bowman’s crew chief Blake Harris, Gordon replied “I think everybody recognized, he’s been great. He’s put in all the effort. He’s done all the right things. I mean Blake coming on board has had a lot to do with Alex and their relationship and who he thought could be the right fit for him. And you know, they’ve done a great job together, but it hasn’t come without challenges. He’s been through a lot… “

“You really want guys like that to find their way when they’ve had to struggle. And just seems like, right as he’s getting into a stride. Boom. Something would happen.” – opined Gordon, as he continued, “And so I think that’s why this is so important. Not just for him and the team, but for him personally as far as we’re concerned. Ally loves him. We love him… And today was not an easy set of circumstances and he proved he can win in these tough conditions as well on the road course.”

Finally, the four-time Cup Series champion Vice Chairman of Rick Hendrick’s race team laid out the positive bearings for Alex Bowman’s future saying, “So I understand why people want to talk. It is a tough business, and when you’re at Hendrick Motorsports you do expect, especially when the other three have won to be in that same category. And it hasn’t been happening. So hopefully this dispels a lot of the rumors.”

Regardless of the rumors, Trey Ryan, NASCAR Twitterverse’s self-proclaimed stat guy revealed a tidbit that suggested 2024 was only the eighth time in Hendrick Motorsports’ glorious 40-year history, where all 4 cars won at least one race. However, the pressure did pile on Bowman to notch one for himself after finishing in the top 10 eleven times – the second-highest out of anyone this season. And with Blake Harris earning his first win with the #48  team of Hendrick Motorsports, Jeff Gordon has been radiating nothing but confidence speaking about this newly successful pairing’s chances in the post-season.

A new era dawns for the #48 team

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While answering another question to the media about what this win “does for Alex” and the expectations, Gordon elaborated, “I get to spend time with guys like Blake and you see him come into Hendrick Motorsports. And there’s a lot of pressure and expectation there. So that’s the same way for Alex and all the drivers. And so it’s important that you know, you gel and the chemistry comes, and the effort’s there. But you got to win at some point…”

He explained it’s “Not just because you’re at Hendrick Motorsports. It’s because, it’s really hard to get the team where they need to be to compete at the highest level in a regular basis. Make the playoffs, then compete at a high level in the playoffs without victory coming to just remind everybody that we’re doing the right things. And we’re working in the right direction and working well together.”

Clearly, with all four drivers locked into the playoffs, there is no doubt that the entire Hendrick organization is “working well together” towards a shot at ultimate glory in the 2024 season. Kyle Larson & Chase Elliott have been battling for the regular season points lead for a few weeks, William Byron sits 6th in the table with three race wins. And Alex Bowman at 11th is now effectively has a chance to redeem himself after missing the playoffs just last year.

Hence, Gordon agreed with a heart filled with pride: “So yeah, I think today was a huge day for both of these guys and the whole team and I couldn’t be more proud or happy for the whole group because I know what kind of pressure they have been feeling, and it’s amazing for all of us now… To have all four cars in the playoffs.” 

But only one champion can emerge when all the dust gets ready to stir up the post-season excitements with the playoffs opener in Atlanta. How will that round up for Jeff Gordon, Rick Hendrick & the entire Hendrick Motorsports organization? The season’s next big test at Pocono will surely reveal a more lucid picture.