The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series witnessed a tale of contrasts at Hendrick Motor Sports, with Kyle Larson and William Byron commanding the track, clinching 10 victories collectively, and securing second and third places in the championship standings. Conversely, Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott faced challenging seasons, marred by injuries that kept them out of contention for the playoffs.
Bowman, sidelined for five races due to a back injury sustained during his debut in Kyle Larson’s High Limit Racing sprint car series, is determined to reclaim his winning form in the upcoming 2024 season. Reflecting on the past year, he acknowledges the adversity but asserts that he is now in peak physical condition, surpassing any previous fitness level.
Bowman’s Focus on Consistency and Fitness
Heading into the 2024 championship, Bowman’s primary goal is to rediscover his consistency and regain the momentum that characterized the early part of the 2023 season. Confident about his fitness level, Bowman expresses eagerness to return to racing with optimism surrounding the recent positive changes within the team.
“I’m looking forward to 24; there’s a couple of changes that I think are going to be really good. I’m feeling better, and having a couple of weeks not so compressed in the race cars has been good for me. From a fitness aspect, I’m probably in the best shape I’ve ever been in right now. Things are good, training really hard.”
Aiming for Daytona: Bowman’s Special Connection
Known for his remarkable Daytona qualifying record, Bowman carries an average starting position of 1.5 over the last six seasons. His worst starting position at the track since 2018 has been P2, showcasing an impressive streak that aligns with the season opener. Despite this achievement, Bowman remains modest, attributing the success to the race car rather than personal merit.
“Man, I don’t know. I know that’s really important to Mr. Hendrick. It’s cool for the partners. For me, it’s like, it’s an interesting thing for me because I don’t have anything to do with it, right? … It’s all the race car, and I love having – the record’s cool and everything, and I would love to do it again, but I don’t know. We’ll see when we get there.”
Focused on Results: Bowman’s Daytona Ambitions
Despite his impressive starts at Daytona, Bowman aims for more than just a record-breaking beginning. Acknowledging a historically modest average finish of P19 at the Florida track, his ambition for the 2024 season is clear — to translate his strong qualifying performances into consistently positive race results.
Also Read:- Alex Bowman Anticipates a Resurgent 2024 Season
