Alex Bowman described his NASCAR Cup Series victory at Pocono Raceway on Saturday as “one of the craziest” he’d ever experienced.
Not only did it occur after Kyle Larson suffered a flat tire and bumped into the wall while leading on the final lap, but it also occurred the night before another Cup race, preventing Bowman from doing many of the things he would normally do to celebrate.
A burnout, standing on the car’s roof, and consuming an excessive amount of beer were among the activities.
Bowman did, however, hear the roar of the crowd and feel the excitement from one of the largest crowds Pocono has seen in years, both in the grandstands and in the infield, as fans obviously embraced NASCAR’s top series’ return after the epidemic kept people away in 2020.
“It was really neat,” Bowman said. “Pennsylvania race fans are some of the best in the world whether it’s sprint racing or Cup racing, whatever it is. They’re pretty damn awesome. So to see a packed grandstand and a packed infield was great.”
Prior to the race, Bowman said he ran into the infield and was impressed with what he heard, but not necessarily with what he heard.
“As I was running I kept hearing ‘There’s William Byron’ which is pretty normal for Pocono,” Bowman said. “I don’t know why Pocono people think I’m William. I guess I’m a little insulted because I feel like I am way better looking than him. But PA fans are pretty awesome and it was pretty cool to see a packed house.”
With more wins like Saturday, it will become harder for anyone not to know who Bowman is.
More fans will be rooting for Bowman on Sunday.
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If Bowman wins the Explore the Pocono Mountains 350, which starts at 3:30 p.m., Pocono Raceway will give away $100,000. One lucky fan will receive $10,000, with the remaining $90,000 going to five local charity.
Hendrick Motorsports has reestablished its dominance in the Cup circuit with a new cast of standouts who have replaced former Hendrick legends such as Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. The guy who some used to refer to as “Bad-luck Bowman” clearly had a reversal of fortune on Saturday and has been one of the stars for Hendrick Motorsports.
“Morale is obviously super high at Hendrick Motorsports and it’s really cool to see, and it’s not one thing,” Bowman said. “Each individual at Hendrick, from top to bottom in every department, has been great. It’s also everybody at Chevrolet. Our engines are strong, our bodies are great, our chassis are great. The guys putting them together are doing a great job. Having [former crew chief] Chad Knaus in a new role [vice president of competition] has been really good.
“It’s not one thing. It’s the culmination of everyone’s hard work.”
It also comes down to quality drivers like Larson, Byron, defending Cup champion Chase Elliott, and Bowman, who are all teammates at Hendrick.
Larson came in tenth on Sunday, with Byron coming in third behind Kyle Busch. Elliott finished in 12th place.
But as unlikely as it was as the final lap began, the day belonged to Bowman.
“It feels pretty freakin’ good,” he said. “I don’t know what to think. Today I was apologizing to my crew for losing and then Kyle gets the flat tire and I win. I’ve had my fair share of bad luck, but maybe it’s changing. I’ll take it.”
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