CHICAGO– Alex Bowman secured a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs on Sunday when he held on for victory on a rainy track in downtown Chicago.
It was Bowman’s first win since Las Vegas in March 2022 and the 8th of his career. He is the 12th Cup Series driver to win this year, leaving four playoff spots remaining with six races remaining in the regular season.
The race was stopped for more than 100 minutes because of rain, and NASCAR set a cutoff time of 8:20 p.m. CDT because of the weakening sun. When Bowman crossed the start and finish line after that time, the white flag appeared followed by the checkered one.
Tyler Reddick made a late push but ran into a wall trying to reach Bowman. Ty Gibbs was third, followed by Joey Hand and Michael McDowell.
Bowman closed in his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet after pole-sitter Kyle Larson and Shane van Gisbergen were knocked out.
Larson hit the tire barrier in turn 6 on lap 34, bringing out a caution. He was trying for his fourth win of the season in his 350th career Cup Series start.
“As soon as I hit the brakes, I knew I was in trouble,” said Larson, who was at the top of the driver standings at the start of the weekend.
Van Gisbergen was hit by Chase Briscoe in Turn 6 on Lap 25. Briscoe slid into a tire barrier, but van Gisbergen crashed into the temporary wall – causing severe damage to the right side of his Kaulig Racing Chevrolet.
“I kind of gave in. It felt really good and then I got slapped by someone,” van Gisbergen said. “It’s devastating.”
Shortly after the wreck, the race was stopped to give NASCAR time to clear standing water from the makeshift track. Drivers returned to their cars about an hour later, but the delay continued when another cell passed along the route.
Ty Gibbs was in front when the race resumed, followed by Christopher Bell and Larson.
Van Gisbergen ran for a Career-altering victory last year in Chicago, when he became the first driver to win his Cup Series debut since Johnny Rutherford in the second qualifying race at Daytona in 1963. The 35-year-old New Zealander also won Saturday’s race. Xfinity Series race on the complicated 12-turn, 3.5-kilometre course.
Van Gisbergen won the first stage on Sunday, shortly before he was knocked out.
“We managed to lead and I felt like I was driving well,” he said, “so yeah, it’s a shame to leave so early. .”
Bowman’s victory capped off NASCAR’s second year on street tracks in Chicago. It is expected to return next season, but the future of the weekend — a combination of racing and music designed more for NASCAR newcomers than its traditional fans — is unclear beyond 2025.
Unlike last year, when persistent rain wreaked havoc on the schedule – leading to shortened versions of the Xfinity and Cup Series races – there were no weather issues until the Cup drivers got into their cars and were told to start their engines. . Then the rain started to fall and the teams had to make a quick decision about switching to wet tires.
After slowing to a drizzle, the rain increased in intensity around lap 17 – leading to the stoppage.
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