HMS chief Jeff Gordon expects massive issues from Alex Bowman as he makes a shock admission in regards to the #48 driver

Alex Bowman is heading into the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs because the sixteenth seed, and Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman Jeff Gordon thinks the No. 48 crew may shock folks. In a video shared by SiriusXM NASCAR on X, Gordon spoke about Bowman’s season, the stress he faces, and why he nonetheless believes Bowman can go additional than anticipated within the playoffs.

SiriusXM NASCAR posted the clip on social media. The caption learn:

“Alex handles pressure well.”

Gordon defined that Bowman and crew chief Blake Harris have assembled robust runs this yr, even when the win column is empty. He famous that the No. 48 automotive has pace and consistency, whereas playoff factors are lacking. That, mixed with Bowman’s potential to remain calm beneath stress, may very well be the distinction within the early rounds. Gordon praised Bowman’s work beneath powerful situations in his feedback to SiriusXM NASCAR.

“The team is solid. Blake’s doing a great job, Alex. I mean if you just look at their performance where they’ve been running, okay the win column that didn’t come yet and with this format. That’s an important piece of getting locked in,” he mentioned.

He additionally acknowledged that Alex Bowman’s lack of playoff factors places the crew in a tricky spot, including:

“Now hey, they’ve got work to do, right? You get behind as far as going into this first round without those added bonuses and playoff points. You got a bit of an uphill climb. And I think there’s pressure on the 48 team, but I also have a lot of confidence Alex handles pressure well.”

Alex Bowman’s season numbers again up a part of Gordon’s level. In 26 races, he has no wins however has had 14 top-10 finishes, six top-fives, and two poles. He has led 160 laps, with a mean begin of 15.9 and a mean end of 16.3. He additionally has 4 DNFs, which have damage his total outcomes. Bowman enters the playoffs with 2002 factors, 30 behind the chief.

Predictions from Motorsports Wire paint a unique image. Analyst Austin Konenski believes Bowman will probably be eradicated within the Round of 16. He factors to Bowman’s struggles at Darlington Raceway and World Wide Technology Raceway, each on the schedule within the first spherical. According to Konenski, even when Bowman runs properly at Bristol, the primary two races will seemingly be an excessive amount of to beat.

He predicts Alex Bowman, Austin Dillon, Ross Chastain, and Shane van Gisbergen will exit early. Still, he shared that Bowman has the potential for a deep playoff run if he can lastly rating a win.

Alex Bowman on the stress of Daytona and the playoffs

Alex Bowman spoke to reporters earlier than the beginning of the playoffs about how he felt at Daytona, the place his playoff hopes almost ended. He entered the race winless and sixteenth in factors, which made him susceptible. After being caught in a wreck, he had no management over his destiny. If a brand new winner had come up, Bowman would have been knocked out. Instead, Ryan Blaney charged from thirteenth to win the race, which stored Bowman in.

Asked about these ultimate laps, Bowman acknowledged it was tough watching different winless drivers like Justin Haley and Cole Custer preventing up entrance, saying:

“Nerve-wracking for sure, but at the same time everything that we’ve been able to do this summer and as strong as we’ve been able to run… obviously you want to be in the playoffs, but when it’s that much out of your control and there’s nothing you can do, you also can’t let it absolutely ruin your year if something outside of your control happens.”

Alex Bowman joked afterward that he owed Ryan Blaney “seven million beers” for profitable, although he later admitted he exaggerated since he hasn’t gained himself this season. Still, he mentioned he felt assured about how the No. 48 has run and believes the crew is able to making a robust push. When requested if he felt reduction making the playoffs, Bowman mentioned no. He defined that the playoffs deliver extra stress and demand robust outcomes each week.

He was additionally requested whether or not he had one thing to show. Bowman gave a blended reply, saying it could be unimaginable to win a title with a crew he views as a contender, however added that proving himself is now not the explanation he races.

“We’re going to do all we can to make it happen. But I don’t drive race cars to prove anything to anybody anymore. I’m here to do my job for Hendrick Motorsports and to go perform at a high level every week,” Bowman mentioned.

Alex Bowman’s spot within the playoffs got here with assist from one other driver, however now the end result rests on what he and the No. 48 crew can do on monitor. Jeff Gordon’s confidence offers him backing from management, however the first three races will resolve whether or not that perception pays off or the predictions of an early exit become true.