Home Other Sports News Alex Bowman Wins Rainy Chicago Street Race Clinches Playoff Berth And Snaps...

Alex Bowman Wins Rainy Chicago Street Race Clinches Playoff Berth And Snaps 80-Race Victory Drought

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Photo Credit: Elvin L. Anderson Jr.

Chicago, IL—-Alex Bowman claimed victory at the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs after winning a rainy street race in downtown Chicago. This win marked Bowman’s first victory since March 2022 and his 8th career win. The race was temporarily halted due to rain, eventually resuming before the 8:20 p.m. CDT cutoff time. Bowman led the race to the finish line, securing his playoff spot.

Bowman chose to finish the race on wet weather tires, took the lead from Joey Hand on lap 51 to lead the last eight laps in the first race to end under NASCAR’s new time rule. Under the rule, NASCAR gives the teams a time that it will end the race. Once the race leader crosses the start/finish line after the time expires, the next lap will be the white flag, followed by the checkered flag. There is no overtime.

Tyler Reddick initiated a late surge, but collided with the wall in his pursuit of catching up to Bowman. Ty Gibbs secured the third position, with Joey Hand and Michael McDowell following closely in fourth and fifth place, respectively.

This was Bowman’s eighth career victory, he snapped an 80-race winless streak and gained a playoff berth. Hendrick Motorsports and Team Penske have now qualified all of their drivers for the playoffs. Bowman became the 12th different driver to win this season. That now leaves four playoff positions open via points.

Photo Credit: Elvin L. Anderson Jr.

“I broke my back. I had a brain injury. You start to second guess if you’re ever going to get a chance to win a race again,” Bowman said after the race that was interrupted by rain for 1:43:01.

“After that last win, we really didn’t get to celebrate. We’re going to drink so much damn bourbon. I’m probably going to wake up naked on the bathroom floor again.”

Bowman closed it out in his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet after pole-sitter Kyle Larson and Shane van Gisbergen were knocked out. The race, held on a street course in Chicago, concluded NASCAR’s second year on the track.

While the event is anticipated to return next season, its future beyond 2025 is uncertain, given its crossover appeal to both racing and music enthusiasts, and last year, the schedule was disrupted by continual rain, resulting in abbreviated Xfinity and Cup Series races.