Alex Bowman is bummed he can't 'drink all the beers' after winning 1st race in NASCAR's doubleheader
Alex Bowman took the checkered flag Saturday in the first race in NASCAR’s doubleheader weekend at Pocono Raceway, calling it “the strangest win [he’s] ever been a part of.”
On the last lap of the Pocono Organics CBD 325, Bowman was ready to settle for second place behind his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Kyle Larson, who was racing toward a fourth consecutive victory. Larson passed Bowman for the lead with five of 130 total laps to go at the track nicknamed the “Tricky Triangle.”
Bowman said he was resigned and was apologizing to his team over the radio on the final lap when Larson’s left front tire went flat, sending him into the wall and opening the door for Bowman to take the lead in Turn 3 and win.
“I hate to win one that way, but hell yeah, I’ll take it,” 28-year-old Bowman said immediately after the race during his on-track interview.
We can't believe it!@Alex_Bowman is your winner! pic.twitter.com/rX8dBjT83b
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 26, 2021
During his post-race press conference, the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet driver somewhat comically expressed his disappointment over not being able to celebrate his third win of the season the way he wants to.
With a second Pocono race set for Sunday — the Explore the Pocono Mountains 350 (3:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN) — Bowman had to protect his winning car and rest up, and that means a significantly more muted celebration compared with a typical race weekend.
And with his deadpan tone, Bowman sounded so sad about it.
Alex Bowman was apologizing to his team right before he took the lead on the final lap and then couldn’t celebrate the way he wanted. Bowman: “This is the strangest win I have ever been a part of.” pic.twitter.com/R0ku8z91B0
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) June 26, 2021
He said:
“I don’t really know what to think. This is the strangest win I’ve ever been a part of. I thought I was running second, which was still going to be a good day for us with kind of how we struggled throughout the course of the day. But then he blows a tire. We win.
“Can’t do a burnout because I’ve gotta race the car tomorrow. I typically stand on the roof of the car; can’t do that because I’ve gotta race the car tomorrow. I typically drink all the beers; can’t do that because I’ve gotta race the car tomorrow.
“I have to be WAY more responsible than I really wanna be right now, so it’s definitely been a unique win. I’ve never been in a situation like that.”
He added:
“Here I’m apologizing to my guys, we come out with a win. Yeah, I don’t know. It’s pretty interesting to be on the other side of it. I’ll take it. I’ve had my fair share of bad luck over the course of my career. Hence the whole ‘Bad Luck Bowman’ thing.”
Maybe that’s all behind me and it was just in preparation for this great luck that we have right now. Yeah, I’ll take it.
Looks like Bowman will have to quietly celebrate his fifth career win with some Uncrustables instead. Or, at least until he gets through Sunday’s race.
This season, Bowman also has victories at Richmond Raceway and Dover International Speedway.