Circuit of the Americas is one of Alex Bowman’s best tracks, but Sunday’s result was far from what he wanted. The Hendrick Motorsports driver was struggling behind the wheel, feeling extremely ill.
Bowman also desperately needed points after a rough first two races, which left him 32nd in the championship standings. As the COTA race progressed, he told the team that he simply could not continue. He did manage to score a handful of stage points in Stage 1 after staying out to grab seventh place. But after that, he faded to the back despite having one of the best average finishes of all drivers at the Austin road course.
“Points don’t matter,” the team told him over the radio. “Whatever you need. It’s your call.”
And so, with just over 20 laps to go, Bowman drove the #48 Chevrolet behind the wall and brought it to the hauler, where he climbed out. He was already running at the very back of the pack before that.
Myatt Snider got behind the wheel of the #48, finishing the race for Hendrick Motorsports. NASCAR surveyed the driver change, and approved of the mid-race swap. Snider is an experienced driver in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and a proven winner there, but he has never actually raced a Cup car before.
Snider was working as a pit spotter for NASCAR on FOX during Sunday’s race before getting the call to drive for Hendrick.
The #48 car was running 36th, five laps down, when Snider took over. Per NASCAR rules, Bowman will be credited with whatever points Snider scores.
More to follow…
Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Photo by: Logan Riely / Getty Images
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