Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman was on cloud nine after the Roval round of 12, celebrating with the entire team as all four HMS drivers had successfully made it into the Round of 8. However, the joy quickly turned into a nightmare for Bowman when he learned that his No. 48 Chevy had been disqualified for being underweight, stripping him of his playoff spot and handing it to his competitor.
In a moment of sheer frustration and disbelief, Bowman revealed that his first instinct was to throw his phone into the pool, expecting it to blow up with messages as news of the disqualification spread. But in a bizarre twist, his phone mistakenly dialed 911, assuming that a car crash had occurred, though fortunately, the call didn’t go through due to lack of signal.
“The next thing I got was [Bob Pockrass’] tweet, and I proceeded to throw my phone in the pool,” Bowman recounted. “My phone proceeded to call 9-1-1 and tell them I was in a car crash. Luckily, the cops didn’t show up because the call didn’t go through.”
Reflecting on the shock of the DQ, Bowman admitted that Sunday night was a low point for him. However, the veteran driver isn’t letting the setback define his season. He acknowledged the disappointment but emphasized that it’s part of the unpredictability of life.
“My Sunday night wasn’t very good. It couldn’t happen to anybody else that way. That’s just part of life,” Bowman said. “I’m moving on and focused on going fast this weekend.”
Although his hopes for the championship are now dashed, Bowman is determined to make the most of the remaining races. He believes that adversity often leads to positive outcomes, a mindset he’s carried throughout his career.
“Most of the [expletive] things that have happened in my life have ended up working out for the better. Everything happens for a reason,” Bowman shared. “We don’t have a shot at the championship anymore, but there’s still time to do good things the rest of the season.”
With four races left in the 2024 season, including the upcoming race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Bowman is eager to play spoiler and secure more wins for Hendrick Motorsports. Despite the setback, he’s keeping his eyes on the road ahead, ready to move forward and finish the season strong.
