Since the NASCAR season resumed on May 17, Alex Bowman has five starts at three different tracks. The Tucson, Arizona, native has an average starting position of 9.2 and an average finish of 21.4. Bowman has led 256 laps in the five events and had an average running position of 2.8 in the 400-mile event at Darlington Raceway.
2020 STATISTICS: The No. 88 Axalta pit crew is ranked third in the NASCAR Cup Series in average four-tire pit stop time this season. The team’s average stop is 13.97 seconds and is the best median among pit crews servicing a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE. Bowman is ranked fifth among drivers with the highest average running position in 2020 at 10.37. He also is second with the most stage wins this season. He has won four stages while teammate Chase Elliott has captured five. Bowman is also second in the most laps led in 2020 with 369.
ATL BOUND: Bowman has four previous Atlanta Motor Speedway starts in the NASCAR Cup Series. The driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet’s best finish of 15th came in last year’s event at the 1.5-mile facility. He made one start in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, in 2013, when he qualified 18th. In 2017, Bowman ran in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series, where he finished sixth after qualifying fifth.
1.5-MILE STATS: Since getting his start in the Cup Series in 2014, Bowman has run 52 races on 1.5-mile tracks. In those races, the driver has one win (Chicago in 2019), three top-five finishes, 11 top-10s and 404 laps led. He is one of 11 Hendrick Motorsports drivers to capture a win on a 1.5-mile racetrack.
IVES IN ATLANTA: On Sunday, crew chief Greg Ives will call the shots for the sixth time at Atlanta Motor Speedway with the No. 88 team. The Bark River, Michigan, native has two top-five finishes at the track, which include a runner-up result with Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2016. Ives also has two career starts as a crew chief in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at the 1.5-mile facility. In 2014, his team won the pole for the 195-lap event and led 36 laps en route to a fifth-place finish. From 2006-2012, Ives was a race engineer for the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team with driver Jimmie Johnson. During that time, he was a part of two wins and one pole award at Atlanta.
Alex Bowman on being optimistic going to Atlanta:
“Atlanta should be a good track for our team. Our 1.5-mile program is really good right now and I feel confident that we can continue that momentum from Charlotte. This track is one where you have a lot of options. It’s worn out and you can move around a lot, which gives drivers a lot of choices. Everyone appreciates options, so this weekend should be a good one.”
Bowman’s thoughts on his special shoes for a good cause in Atlanta:
“I have some new shoes this weekend for Sunday’s race. It is always special in Atlanta when we support the Chase Elliott Foundation and their “DESI9N TO DRIVE” program. Justin Mingo, 14 years old, designed some awesome blue shoes with red flames. Hopefully we can get Justin’s shoe design to victory lane.”
HMS PR
