Alex Bowman quietly putting together solid season after rough 2023

After NASCAR's trip to Circuit of the Americas in 2023, things couldn't be much better for Alex Bowman. The driver of the No. 48 Camaro led the Cup Series points standings and looked like a championship threat. However, after a couple of penalties, an injury sustained in a sprint-car race, and a late-season collapse, Bowman missed the playoffs for the first time since joining Hendrick Motorsports in 2018. 

One year later, Bowman was as consistent as ever, proving that his white-hot start in 2023 wasn't a fluke but rather what Bowman was capable of without extenuating circumstances getting in the way. 

While Bowman hasn't had winning speed yet in 2024 — his six laps led ranks worse than 21 of his competitors — he's stayed out of trouble, driving races similarly to David Pearson, nicknamed "The Silver Fox" for his quiet and cunning racing style. Bowman hasn't been near as flashy as Pearson used to be, but he hasn't needed to be. If he keeps running in the top 10, the wins will eventually come. 

While Bowman's season has had a few notable downs — finishes of 37th at Texas, 28th at Gateway, and 27th at Atlanta on what is otherwise an unblemished results sheet — the highs have shown that he's still capable of competing with the best of the best. Bowman came within feet of stealing the Daytona 500 from William Byron and put together top-five runs at Bristol, COTA and Talladega. 

The most consistent stretch of the 2024 season for Bowman was from April 21 to May 26, when He notched five consecutive top-nine finishes, taking him from 14th in points to eighth. He's cooled in recent weeks, with finishes of 28th, 15th and eighth, but the speed has been prevalent under the hood of the No. 48 car. 

Bowman might have the quietest season of the four drivers currently employed by Rick Hendrick, but it's par for the course for the Tucson, Arizona native. Bowman isn't a flashy driver, nor does he mean to be. He's the type of driver who gets behind the wheel, takes care of business — whether that means a win or a solid top-10 effort — and brings the car home in one piece, all without drama. Possibly the most impressive stat of Bowman's 2024 campaign? He only has one DNF in 17 races. 

Bowman is flying under the radar, and until he wins, that will likely remain the case. Don't be surprised if the No. 48 team uses their consistency to make a surprise playoff run — or if they turn up the wick as the postseason approaches.