Alex Bowman unhurt after massive hit that red flags Michigan Cup race

In the second stage of the NASCAR Cup race at Michigan, drivers were scrambling on a restart as they battled three and four-wide for position on track. Alex Bowman was deep in the pack, running 29th when his race came to sudden and violent end.

Bowman was in the middle of a tense battle with a four-wide situation directly in front of him. Cole Custer got loose after contact from Austin Cindric and shot up the track, spinning Daniel Suarez. At the same time, he hit Bowman as well. Bowman’s No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports shot to the right, slamming the outside wall head-on in an impact that managed to left the rear tires off the ground.

Advertisement

Bowman was going about 150mph when the car slammed the wall. Pole-sitter Chase Briscoe was also collected, spinning at the exit of Turn 2.

“That one was really f****** big,” radioed Bowman as he put the window net down and climbed the car. It was a relief to see, as Bowman has been sidelined due to both a back injury and concussion in recent year.

“Yeah, that hurt a lot,” said Bowman after being released from the infield care center. “That was probably top of the board on hits I’ve taken and unfortunately, I’ve taken a lot of hits. I hate that for the #48 team. Obviously, (sponsor) Ally is from here. Looks like the #41 [Custer] got loose or the #2 [Cindric] got into him or something. At that point, just along for the ride. Couldn’t really do anything except think about oh shit this is about to hurt really bad. Hate that. Hate that for our team. It’s been a rough two months.

Advertisement

Suarez and Briscoe were able to continue, while both Custer and Bowman fell out of the race. This continues an unfortunate run of races for the No. 48 HMS Chevrolet, finishing 27th or worse in seven of the last nine races.

The race was red-flagged on Lap 68 of 200 as Bowman’s car came to rest in the middle of the track. The stoppage lasted about 13 minutes.

Photos from Michigan – Race

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Chris Graythen – Getty Images

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Austin Cindric, Team Penske Ford

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Chris Graythen – Getty Images

Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Erik Jones, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota, Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Ty Dillon, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet, Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford, Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford, Erik Jones, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford, Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Cole Custer, Haas Factory Team Ford

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Cole Custer, Haas Factory Team Ford

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Cole Custer, Haas Factory Team Ford

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Austin Cindric, Team Penske Ford, Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Ty Dillon, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

General view

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Tire repair

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford, Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford, Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota, Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Austin Cindric, Team Penske Ford, William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Austin Cindric, Team Penske Ford, Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota, Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Austin Cindric, Team Penske Ford, Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Austin Cindric, Team Penske Ford, Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota, William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Chris Graythen – Getty Images

Riley Herbst, 23XI Racing Toyota

Chris Graythen – Getty Images

Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Michael McDowell, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Chris Graythen – Getty Images

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota; William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet; Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Chris Graythen – Getty Images

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Chris Graythen – Getty Images

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Chris Graythen – Getty Images

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Chris Graythen – Getty Images

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Chris Graythen – Getty Images

Advertisement

Read Also:

Who’s next? Officials are “very close” to another deal after Ram joins NASCAR

NASCAR secures fourth manufacturer as Ram enters Truck series in 2026

Video: 12 drivers crash in frenzied NASCAR Truck restart melee at Michigan

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.