Alex Bowman broke an 80-race NASCAR Cup Sequence winless streak on Sunday, outlasting the rain and the sphere to win the Grant Park 165 on the streets of downtown Chicago.
Bowman, earned his eighth profession Cup Sequence win, holding off Tyler Reddick and Ty Gibbs within the rain-shortened race that ended with a countdown clock. When the clock hit zero, Bowman wanted to take care of his lead for 2 laps – taking the white flag and the checkered flag – to earn his first win since March 6, 2022, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The previous two years have been a wrestle for the 31-year-old Hendrick Motorsports driver, who suffered a concussion in September of 2022 then broke his again in April of 2023.
“Man, I broke my again, I had a mind damage, and we have sort of sucked ever since,” Bowman mentioned in an interview with NBC after the race. “You sort of second guess in case you are ever going to win a race once more. Final one we received, we did not actually get to rejoice.
“We will drink a lot rattling bourbon tonight. It will be a foul deal. I am in all probability going to get up bare on the toilet flooring once more.”
Bowman grew to become the twelfth driver to win a race this season and most probably locks himself into the 16-driver playoff area with six regular-season races remaining.
The race was delayed for almost two hours after Stage 1 ended as rain disrupted the race for the second consecutive yr. As soon as the race resumed, each driver switched to wet-weather tires, however groups confronted a conundrum on when to vary again to main slick tires as soon as NASCAR instituted the countdown clock.
Christopher Bell, who led most of Stage 2 was one in every of quite a few drivers to vary tires earlier than that stage ended, leaving him and lots of different race leaders in the midst of the pack. Bowman’s staff, against this, made the choice to proceed on rain tires.
Because the race wound down, Bell, driving on the quicker slicks, started chasing down Bowman and made all of it the best way to sixth within the working on Lap 55 order earlier than contact with teammate Martin Truex Jr. in Flip 2. Carson Hocevar then slammed into Bell, and any hopes Bell had of profitable his fourth race of the season got here to a screeching halt. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver ended up ending three laps down in thirty seventh.
Learn under for a full recap and all of the highlights from at this time’s race.
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NASCAR at Chicago High 10 finishers
Listed below are the highest 10 finishers within the Grant Park 165 on the streets of downtown Chicago:
- Alex Bowman, No. 48 Chevrolet
- Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Toyota, -2.863 seconds again
- Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Toyota, -2.93 seconds
- Joey Hand, No. 60 Ford, -8.513 seconds
- Michael McDowell, No. 34 For, -8.584 seconds
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Chevrolet, -12.411 seconds
- Todd Gilliland, No. 38 Ford, -13.212 seconds
- William Bryon, No. 24 Chevrolet, -13.607 seconds
- Kyle Busch, No. 8 Cheverolet, -14.757 seconds
- Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Ford, -16.041 seconds
Bubba Wallace slams race winner Alex Bowman into the wall
Moments after Alex Bowman took the checkered flag to win the Grant Park 165 on the streets of Chicago and earlier than the Hendrick Motorsports driver started celebrating, his No. 48 Chevrolet took successful into the retaining wall courtesy of Bubba Wallace.
Wallace had spun earlier within the race after Bowman made contact along with his No. 23 Toyota, forcing the 23XI Racing driver to pit for repairs. Wallace rallied to complete thirteenth, and Bowman instantly apologize as quickly as his post-race interview started.
“I need to apologize once more to the 23 guys (Wallace’s staff),” Bowman mentioned. “I simply tousled attempting to get my windshield wiper on, missed the nook and ruined their day. I hate that, and I am nonetheless embarrased by that.”
Alex Bowman wins NASCAR race on streets of Chicago
Alex Bowman held off Tyler Reddick to win the Grant Park 165 NASCAR Cup Sequence race on the streets of downtown Chicago. Bowman, driving on wet-weather tires, maintained his poise as Reddick, who had modified to main slick tires, tried to chase him down. However with the countdown clock expired, Bowman wanted to only preserve his lead after the white flag flew to earn his first win of the 2024 season.
Alex Bowman leads Chicago avenue race with lower than 5 minutes remaining
Alex Bowman handed Joey Hand on Lap 51 to imagine the lead of the Grant Park 165. Bowman outbreaked Hand in Flip 5 earlier than the Hendrick Motorsports driver surged previous heading into Flip 6.
Bowman and Hand had remained on wet-weather tires whereas lots of the drivers had modified to main slicks. Christopher Bell, who had led a lot of the second stage was the primary driver on slick tires on the observe in ninth place.
NASCAR has instituted a countdown clock will expire at 9:20 p.m. ET (8:20 p.m. native). As soon as the clock expires, the white flag will wave and one lap later the checkered. If the warning flag comes out on the level, the chief of the race will probably be declared the winner.
Joey Hand shock winner of Stage 2 of NASCAR Chicago race
After lots of the leaders hit pit highway below inexperienced earlier than the top of the second stage to vary from wet-weather tires to main slicks, longshot Joey Hand assumed the lead and earned the primary stage win of his NASCAR Cup Sequence profession. The 45-year-old Hand-held off a tough cost from Alex Bowman on the start-finish line because the stage ended.
Christopher Bell had led a lot of the second stage after the race resumed from a rain delay, however he was one in every of quite a few drivers on the entrance of the sphere that modified tires. In consequence, the highest 10 on the finish of Stage 2 had been all drivers who had been nonetheless racing with rain tires.
Listed below are the top-10 finishers of Stage 2:
- Joey Hand, No. 60 Ford
- Alex Bowman, No. 48 Chevrolet
- Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Ford
- Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Chevrolet
- Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Toyota
- Noah Gragson, No. 10 Ford
- Daniel Hemric, No. 31 Chevrolet
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Chevrolet
- Harrison Burton, No. 21 Ford
- Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota
Bell completed the stage in thirteenth place, the primary of the drivers who modified tires.
Kyle Larson’s race ends after laborious crash into tire barrier
Kyle Larson made slight contact with the bumper of Ty Gibbs’ No. 54 Toyota then shot straight into the tire limitations in his No. 5 Chevrolet, rattling the retaining wall in Flip 6.
Larson and Gibbs had been racing for second on Lap 34 of a scheduled 75 laps when his tires locked up as he grazed Gibbs’ automobile and shot it straight ahead at excessive velocity. Larson tried to drive his automobile again to pit highway after a toe truck pulled the automobile out of the tires, however the injury was so extreme he was compelled to exit the automobile, ending his day.
Larson, the 2021 Cup Sequence champion, got here into the race because the factors chief this season.
Christopher Bell takes lead of NASCAR avenue race
Christopher Bell handed Ty Gibbs moments after the inexperienced flag waved for the restart of the Grant Park 165. Gibbs has fallen to second with Kyle Larson in third and Tyler Reddick in fourth early within the second stage.
NASCAR Chicago avenue race restarts after rain delay
The Grant Park 165 NASCAR Cup Sequence race has resumed with the inexperienced flag waving on Lap 30 of a scheduled 75 – although the race is prone to finish sooner due to darkness.
The highest 5 drivers on the restart:
- Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Toyota
- Christopher Bell, No. 20 Toyota
- Kyle Larson, No. 5 Chevrolet
- Zane Smith, No. 71 Chevrolet
- Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Toyota
Vehicles again out on Chicago streets – below warning
Following a pink flag that lasted 1 hour, 43 minutes, vehicles have returned to the downtown Chicago avenue course below warning on Lap 27. The race will go inexperienced with a single-file restart.
Rain returns earlier than NASCAR Chicago race restarts
NASCAR officers had referred to as drivers again to their vehicles in hopes of restarting the Grant Park 165, however moments earlier than engines had been refired, one other rain cell landed in downtown Chicago and compelled one other delay.
The race stays red-flagged as jet dryers proceed to blow rain off the streets. NASCAR has introduced the race will cease at 9:20 p.m. ET (8:20 p.m. native) – no matter what number of laps have been accomplished – as a result of darkness.
Drivers getting again of their vehicles for Chicago avenue race
NASCAR officers have referred to as drivers again to their vehicles in hopes of restarting the Grant Park 165 shortly. Jet dryers have been working diligently to blow standing water off the streets of downtown Chicago following a downpour.
The race was red-flagged simply after Stage 2 started, on Lap 26 of a scheduled 75 laps.
NASCAR Chicago avenue race red-flagged
NASCAR officers introduced all of the vehicles down pit highway and introduced out the pink flag, briefly halting the race because the rain continued to fall in downtown Chicago.
Tracker dryers headed out on the circuit to attempt to blow the standing water off the streets, so the race may resume – even below the rain. Practically each driver had already been working on wet-weather tires.
Favourite SVG out of NASCAR Chicago race after crash
Chase Briscoe misplaced management of his No. 14 Ford in Flip 6 , hitting defending race winner Shane van Gisbergen on Lap 25. Briscoe spun laborious into the tire barrier, however SVG hit the wall laborious on the fitting aspect of his No. 16 Chevrolet, bringing out the warning
Van Gisbergen, who additionally received Saturday’s Xfinity race, was compelled to retire from the race due to extreme injury to his automobile.
Ty Gibbs had taken the lead from Zane Smith when Stage 2 started and held the lead when the yellow flag got here out. Christopher Bell was second, Kyle Larson third, Smith fourth and Tyler Reddick fifth.
Zane Smith stays out as different drivers change to rain tires
Zane Smith, who had already been racing on rain tires, stayed out below the warning on the finish of the primary stage as a lot of the remainder of the sphere – these on who remained on the lead lap – hit pit highway to vary from slick to moist tires.
The Spire Motorsports driver will lead the sphere to inexperienced for the beginning of Stage 2 in his No. 71 Chevrolet, adopted by Christopher Bell, Ty Gibbs, Kyle Larson and Shane van Gisbergen.
SVG wins Stage 1 of NASCAR avenue race in Chicago
Defending race winner Shane van Gisbergen received the opening stage, which ended below warning because the rain started to come back down tougher.
Gisbergen, who additionally received Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity race on the streets of Chicago, took the lead on Lap 13 and held it via the top of the 20-lap first stage. Drivers then hit pit highway to vary to wet-weather tires.
Listed below are the highest 10 finishers in Stage 1:
- Shane van Gisbergen, No. 16 Chevrolet
- Christopher Bell, No. 20 Toyota
- Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Toyota
- Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Ford
- Kyle Larson, No. 5 Chevrolet
- Alex Bowman, No. 48 Chevrolet
- Bubba Wallace, No. 23 Toyota
- Todd Gilliland, No. 38 Ford
- Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Toyota
- Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Chevrolet
Lajoie brings out first warning in NASCAR Chicago avenue race
Corey Lajoie spun popping out of Flip 4, bringing out the warning on Lap 17. LaJoie, who began twentieth, hit the wall with the again of his No. 7 Cheverolet and could not get rotated as the sphere of vehicles approached, forcing officers to to throw the primary yellow flag of the day.
NASCAR officers determined to not open pit highway earlier than the top of the 20-lap opening stage, ending it below warning. With extra rain quick approaching, groups can have an opportunity to determine whether or not to change to wet-weather tires on the stage break.
SVG takes the lead in opening stage of NASCAR Chicago avenue race
Defending race winner Shane van Gisbergen handed Ty Gibbs on Lap 13 of the Grant Park 165. Gibbs was compelled to gradual because the leaders got here up on the again of the sphere, and SVG took benefit, shifting previous the Joe Gibbs Racing driver on the within of Turns 11 and 12. There are 20 laps scheduled within the opening stage.
Ty Gibbs main opening stage in NASCAR Chicago avenue race
Ty Gibbs, who began second, has led 10 lap to date within the Grant Park 165. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver surged previous pole sitter Kyle Larson when the inexperienced flag dropped. Beginning on main slick tires, Gibbs has maintained the lead via the primary half of the 20-lap opening stage.
Defending race winner Shane van Gisbergen has moved as much as second, adopted by Christopher Bell, Larson and Chase Briscoe.
NASCAR Cup race on streets of Chicago begins
The inexperienced flag has waved for the Grant Park 165 with pole sitter Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports and Ty Gibbs of Joe Gibbs Racing main the 40-car area previous the beginning/end line in Grant Park. Some drivers have modified to wet-weather tires, whereas others are driving with the first slicks. Among the downtown streets have puddles, whereas others stay largely dry.
Ty Gibbs instantly jumped to the lead forward of Tyler Reddick and Larson.
Vehicles taking one-lap inspection on streets of Chicago forward of begin
Vehicles have rolled out of pit highway to take a one-lap inspection of the course for the Grant Park 165. Drivers are cruising down the downtown streets at pace-car velocity attempting to find out whether or not they need to maintain their regular slick tires or change to rain tires, which have treads.
NASCAR Chicago climate replace: Gentle rain hits observe earlier than inexperienced flag
Whereas you shouldn’t anticipate the torrential downpour that occurred in 2023, the Grant Park 165 has had a run-in with Mom Nature already on Sunday.
Previous to the beginning of the race, the streets of Chicago had been sprinkled with a little bit gentle rain. Rain is anticipate to fall in gentle sheets over the following hour.
NASCAR designated the observe as moist, and groups are prepped with rain tires within the occasion that moist climate does proceed play into the festivities this afternoon.
Begin of NASCAR Chicago race briefly delayed
A lightweight rain has begun falling in downtown Chicago earlier than the beginning of the Grant Park 165. Crew members have coated the vehicles on pit highway to maintain them from getting moist. NASCAR and Goodyear have introduced rain tires to the occasion, so the race ought to be capable of go inexperienced earlier than lengthy if the rain would not turn out to be too heavy.
Engines fired for NASCAR avenue race in Chicago
Former Chicago Bears working again Matt Forte gave drivers the command to start out engines for the Grant Park 165. The 2-time NFL Professional Bowler performed eight seasons in Chicago and two with the New York Jets earlier than retiring in 2017.
9 vehicles compelled to rear of area for NASCAR Chicago avenue race
Reigning sequence champion Ryan Blaney is amongst 9 drivers that may drop to the rear of the sphere earlier than the inexperienced flag waves for the Grant Park 165 in Chicago. Eight of the 9 wanted to make repairs to their vehicles following Saturday’s on track-session, which NASCAR considers unapproved changes.
Except for Blaney, the opposite drivers who made repairs are Chris Buescher, Josh Berry, Brad Keselowski, Corey LaJoie, Harrison Burton, William Byron and Erik Jones. Josh Bilicki’s automobile failed pre-race inspection 3 times, invalidating the staff’s qualifying time whereas additionally leading to a pass-through penalty down pit highway in the beginning of the race.
What TV channel is the NASCAR Cup race at Chicago on?
NBC is broadcasting the Grant Park 165 and can have a pre-race present at 4 p.m. ET (3 p.m. native).
NASCAR Chicago stay stream
The Grant Park 165 will be stay streamed on Peacock, the NBCSports web site and the NBC Sports activities app. The race can be accessible to stream on Fubo.
What number of laps is the NASCAR Cup race at Chicago?
The Grant Park 165 is 75 laps across the 2.2-mile avenue course for a complete of 165 miles. The race will function three segments (laps per stage) − Stage 1: 20 laps; Stage 2: 25 laps; Stage 3: 30 laps.
NASCAR Chicago beginning lineup
Kyle Larson is in pole place as drivers gear up for Sunday’s race. Here is the lineup:
- Kyle Larson, No. 5 Chevrolet
- Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Toyota
- Michael McDowell, No. 34 Ford
- Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Toyota
- Shane van Gisbergen, No. 16 Chevrolet
- Bubba Wallace, No. 23 Toyota
- Christopher Bell, No. 20 Toyota
- Alex Bowman, No. 48 Chevrolet
- Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Chevrolet
- Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Ford
- Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota
- John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Toyota
- Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Chevrolet
- Ross Chastain, No. 1 Chevrolet
- Austin Dillon, No. 3 Chevrolet
- Chris Buescher, No. 17 Ford
- Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Ford
- Chase Elliott, No. 9 Chevrolet
- Kyle Busch, No. 8 Chevrolet
- Corey LaJoie, No. 7 Chevrolet
- Austin Cindric, No. 2 Ford
- Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Ford
- Justin Haley, No. 51 Ford
- Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Toyota
- Erik Jones, No. 43 Toyota
- Todd Gilliland, No. 38 Ford
- William Byron, No. 24 Chevrolet
- Noah Gragson, No. 10 Ford
- Ryan Preece, No. 41 Ford
- Zane Smith, No. 71 Chevrolet
- Harrison Burton, No. 21 Ford
- Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Chevrolet
- Austin Hill, No. 33 Chevrolet
- Daniel Hemric, No. 31 Chevrolet
- Josh Berry, No. 4 Ford
- AJ Allmendinger, No. 13 Chevrolet
- Joey Hand, No. 60 Ford
- Josh Bilicki, No. 66 Ford (didn’t try qualifying lap)
- Kaz Grala, No. 15 Ford
NASCAR Chicago climate replace: Forecast for Grant Park 165
The forecast in Chicago Sunday for the Grant Park 165 is usually favorable, although an opportunity of thunderstorms nonetheless looms.
The Nationwide Climate Service is projecting a 30% likelihood of precipitation at 3 p.m. native time, half an hour earlier than the beginning of the race, with the prospect of rain peaking at 4 p.m., at 31%. The NWS can be forecasting the prospect of thunderstorms at the moment between 30% and 50%.
As a band of storm clouds rolls via the realm, touring east, the prospect for rain and thunder will progressively lower because the afternoon wears on, with the prospect of rain falling to 21% by 6 p.m.
Per the NWS, the temperature is anticipated to hover across the mid-to-low 80s, with a projection of 86 levels at 3 p.m. Wind gusts of as much as 17 miles per hour are anticipated all through the afternoon.
What’s the format for the road course for NASCAR Cup race at Chicago?
Drivers will cruise down iconic streets like Michigan Avenue and Lake Shore Drive and previous well-known landmarks like Buckingham Fountain through the Grant Park 165. The 12-turn, 2.2-mile circuit will begin on Columbus Avenue and wind via the downtown streets earlier than it hits the beginning/end line in entrance of Grant Park.
Who received the newest NASCAR Cup race at Chicago?
Shane van Gisbergen received his NASCAR Cup Sequence debut, chasing down Justin Haley and Chase Elliott on July 2, 2023, in a memorable end to the sequence’ first avenue race. The New Zealand native and three-time Supercars champion led the ultimate eight laps and pulled away from Haley by 1.259 seconds to turn out to be the primary driver to win his Cup debut since Johnny Rutherford within the second qualifying race at Daytona in 1963.
What number of drivers have received NASCAR Cup races within the 2024 season?
Seven races stay within the common season, together with Sunday’s race in Chicago, earlier than the 16-driver NASCAR Cup Sequence playoffs start on Sept. 11. An everyday-season win nearly locks up a playoff berth, however the chance nonetheless stays that there may very well be extra race winners than accessible playoff spots since 11 drivers have a least received victory this season.
2024 winners (factors in parentheses): Kyle Larson 3 (664); Denny Hamlin 3 (621); Christopher Bell 3 (576); William Byron 3 (570); Chase Elliott 1 (644); Tyler Reddick 1 (611); Ryan Blaney 1 (560); Brad Keselowski 1 (531); Joey Logano 1 (470); Daniel Suarez 1 (383); Austin Cindric 1 (367).
What time does the NASCAR Cup race at Chicago begin?
The Grant Park 165 begins at 4:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. native) on the streets of downtown Chicago.
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