On a restart with 10 of 400 laps remaining Sunday at Richmond (Va.) Raceway, Bowman – who had not led a lap within the race as much as that time – navigated round chief Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano to take the lead.
He had little hassle from that time hanging on for the win, ending .381 seconds forward of Hamlin to the victory within the ToyotaOwners 400.
It’s Bowman’s first win of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Sequence season and his first driving the enduring No. 48 Chevrolet, made well-known by former seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, who made his first IndyCar Sequence begin on Sunday.
We simply had a fantastic race automotive; it’s so simple as that. Greg Ives (crew chief) and all the blokes, they need to take care of me at quick tracks and I drive these locations actually incorrect. We form of as an alternative of making an attempt to make me determine it out, we went to work on getting the race automotive the place I wanted it to be,” Bowman stated. “Greg has accomplished such an incredible job at making that occur.
“In the beginning, received to thank Ally and Chevrolet; everybody at Hendrick Motorsports. This one is for Rowdy (Harrell) and his household. Miss him and Blakley (Harrell’s spouse) daily. Simply means the world to have the ability to win for Ally. It’s positively emotional, clearly, with how arduous the low season was on us. Appreciative for the chance and now we have extra races to win this 12 months.”
Requested what was going via his thoughts on the ultimate restart, Bowman stated, “To be sincere with you, we had been horrible on quick runs. We restarted third and I’m like, ‘Man, if we get out of right here with a strong top-five, we’ll be good. We’ve overcome rather a lot at this time.’
“I don’t know if Greg pumped the (air) pressures means up or what he did, however that’s extra grip than I’ve ever had in a race automotive at Richmond and it labored out very well. Attending to race a man like Denny (Hamlin) at a spot that that is actually cool. I really feel like we raced one another actually clear, so I’m appreciative of that. It means rather a lot.”
The win can be the third of Bowman’s profession and first since March 1 of final 12 months in Fontana, Calif., proper earlier than the collection went on a three-month hiatus as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
Collectively, Hamlin, Logano and Martin Truex Jr. led 363 of the 400 laps.
Logano ended up ending third, Christopher Bell fourth and Truex rounded out the top-five.
Finishing the top-10 had been Aric Almirola, William Byron, Kyle Busch, Matt DiBenedetto and Austin Dillon.
Stage Three
Following the break between Levels 2 and three, the lead-lap automobiles all pit with Hamlin the primary off pit street. Bowman was penalized for an uncontrolled tire and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was penalized for gear interference and each needed to restart from the rear of the sphere.
The race returned to inexperienced on Lap 248 with Hamlin adopted by Truex, Logano, Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch.
With 125 laps remaining within the race, Hamlin constructed up a few 1-second lead over Logano. Truex was third, Kyle Busch was fourth and Harvick fifth.
A spherical of green-flag pit stops started on Lap 291. Truex was penalized throughout his cease for rushing on pit street and needed to serve a drive-thru penalty.
As soon as the cycle of stops was accomplished on Lap 295, Hamlin returned to the lead adopted by Logano, Kyle Busch, Harvick and Bell.
With 75 laps to go, Hamlin maintained a small however regular lead over Logano with Kyle Busch in third. Following his penalty, Truex had labored his means again to 10th, however 20 seconds behind the chief.
After following him nose-to-tail for a number of laps, Logano went inside Hamlin on Lap 335 to retake the lead.
Logano made his closing green-flag pit cease on Lap 342 and Hamlin and Kyle Busch adopted quickly after, all taking over tires and gas to make it to the end of the race.
Kyle Busch was penalized for a dedication line violation whereas making his pit cease and needed to serve a drive through penalty.
Logano cycled again to the lead on Lap 345. He was adopted by Hamlin, Bell, Bowman and Byron. Kyle Busch ended up 10th and the primary automotive one lap down.
With 30 laps remaining, Hamlin had received to the again of Logano’s rear bumper and commenced placing stress on him to aim a cross for the lead.
On Lap 381, Harvick appeared to have a right-rear go down, spun and hit the Flip 1 wall. He was operating eighth on the time of the incident.
The lead-lap automobiles all pit with Hamlin the primary off pit street. Kyle Busch was the beneficiary of the free cross and returned to the lead lap.
On the restart on Lap 389, Hamlin was adopted by Logano, Bowman, Bell and Almirola.
Bowman barreled to the within of Hamlin with 10 laps to go and grabbed the lead for the primary time within the race.
Stage 2
Hamlin held off Truex following a second spherical of green-flag pit stops to finish a sweep of the Stage 1 and a couple of victories.
Logano was third, Bowman fourth and Harvick rounded out the top-five.
Following the break between Levels 1 and a couple of, the lead-lap automobiles all pit with Hamlin the primary off pit street.
When the race returned to inexperienced on Lap 91, Hamlin was adopted by Truex, Logano, Byron and Ryan Blaney.
Truex received to the within of Hamlin on Lap 104 and got here away with the lead as Logano ran third, Bowman fourth and Harvick fifth.
A spherical of green-flag pit stops started on Lap 137 as a number of of the top-10 automobiles elected to pit.
On Lap 141, Ryan Newman received three-wide with Kyle Larson and Austin Cindric, spun and hit the wall to convey out a warning with green-flag stops not but accomplished.
Brad Keselowski was first off pit street amongst those that had not but pit. When the race returned to inexperienced on Lap 148, Harvick led the way in which adopted by Truex and Hamlin.
Truex rapidly regained the lead after the restart and Hamlin moved into second.
A number of of the lead-lap automobiles elected to start a second spherical of green-flag pit stops. Nevertheless, a handful of drivers, together with Keselowski who took over the lead on Lap 186 whereas others pit, determined to attempt to make it to the tip of Stage 2 with out one other cease.
With 40 laps to go within the stage, Keselowski led the way in which adopted by Hamlin, Blaney and Truex.
On Lap 207, Hamlin – on new tires – lastly ran down Keselowski and reclaimed the lead.
With 20 laps remaining within the stage, Hamlin had moved out to a 1.1-second lead over Truex. Logano was third, Keselowski was fourth (and nonetheless had not pit) and Bowman ran fifth.
Stage 1
Hamlin took management after a spherical of pit cease and by no means appeared again, cruising to the Stage 1 win over Truex.
Logano was third, Byron fourth and Blaney rounded out the top-five.
Truex began on the pole and led your entire means till NASCAR referred to as a contest warning on Lap 31.
All lead-lap automobiles pit with Hamlin the primary off pit street. Daniel Suarez was penalized throughout his cease for an uncontrolled tire and needed to restart from the rear of the sphere.
When the race returned to inexperienced on Lap 38, Hamlin was adopted by Truex, Blaney and Logano.
With 30 laps to go within the first stage, Hamlin maintained a 1.Three-second lead over Logano with Truex in third.
With 10 laps remaining, Hamlin’s lead over Logano was slightly below a second. Truex was third, Byron fourth and Blaney ran fifth.