Alex Bowman is looking for a 2nd straight Cup Series win in Chicago
Bowman raced to a sorely needed victory in downtown Chicago a year ago, stopping an 80-race drought and securing a spot in the playoffs. He is still looking for his first win this season, but he finished third last weekend at Atlanta.
The 32-year-old Bowman is the only driver to win at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, a 45-mile drive from downtown, and the Chicago Street Course. He got his first Cup victory at Chicagoland in 2019.
'As far as confidence coming into this race, I feel like we're plenty capable,' he said Saturday. 'We're typically pretty good at road courses. A lot of confidence coming into these places.'
Bowman struggled at the beginning of June, finishing 36th at Nashville and Michigan. But the driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet turned it around in Mexico City, finishing fourth at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez — a 2.42-mile road course with 15 turns.
Three of the last eight races before the playoffs are on road courses — Chicago, Sonoma next weekend and Watkins Glen on Aug. 10.
Bowman said he likes Chicago because it's so different from the rest of the NASCAR schedule.
'We do a lot of the same thing for most of the year,' he said. 'So, you know, walking through the city to get to the racetrack ... makes it different and a little more enjoyable. The challenge of a street course in general is super fun. Very technical, very little room for error.'
Bowman held off Tyler Reddick for last year's win on the 12-turn, 2.2-mile course — a tricky drive with manhole covers and transitions from concrete to asphalt and back. The race was shortened in each of the last two years because of rain, and there could be more showers on Sunday.
Bowman also is competing in the second round of NASCAR's inaugural in-season tournament this weekend. He faces Bubba Wallace after the two tangled in Chicago last year.
During the cool-down lap after his victory, Bowman was bumped into the wall by Wallace. Bowman spun out Wallace early in the race.
'I think he and I are totally good,' Bowman said. 'But yeah, I mean, he's been really fast here in the past. Like, you don't tend to think of him as a road course guy, but here last year, he was really fast. So definitely going to be a tough one.'
The head-to-head matchup with Bowman certainly got Wallace's attention.
'I'm sure he knows that a door slam does not count us even,' Wallace said. 'So we'll see what happens.'
___
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Dodgers announce pitcher Tyler Glasnow will start Wednesday. utilityman Enrique Hernández to 10-day IL
Pitcher Tyler Glasnow will return to the Los Angeles Dodgers' starting rotation on Wednesday, manager Dave Roberts announced before Monday's matchup with the Milwaukee Brewers. Dustin May, who was originally scheduled to pitch on Wednesday, will now start on Friday at the San Francisco Giants. Advertisement Glasnow, who will turn 32 on Aug. 23, has been on the IL since April 28 with right shoulder inflammation. He left his previous start before the second inning after feeling discomfort while warming up. The right-hander was later moved to the 60-day IL as his recovery timetable was pushed back. He finished his third minor-league rehab start on Thursday, throwing 78 pitches in 4 1/3 innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City and encountered no setbacks. In five starts this season, Glasnow compiled a 4.50 ERA with 23 strikeouts and 11 walks in 18 innings. He made 22 starts last season, a career high, pitching 134 innings. In 2023, Glasnow made 21 starts (with 120 innings pitched) with the Tampa Bay Rays. Advertisement Glasnow had never made more than 14 starts in his eight seasons prior to that. But he did make 45 appearances in 2018. He had Tommy John surgery in 2021. Enrique Hernández placed on 10-day injured list Utilityman Enrique Hernández was placed on the 15-day injured list with left elbow inflammation as part of a series of moves the team announced on Monday. Hernández, 33, is not having a good offensive season, batting .195/.259/.367 with five doubles, eight home runs and 22 RBI in 186 plate appearances. However, he's been a valuable player in the nine total seasons that he's played for the Dodgers (three seasons in his most recent stint) because of his positional versatility. Advertisement In the 71 games he's played this year, Hernández has appeared at first base (26 games), left field (20), second base (18), third base (10) and center field (seven). He has even pitched in five games this season. However, Hernández has taken the mound in blowouts to preserve bullpen arms, rather than display the two-way talent of Shohei Ohtani. In 5 1/3 innings, he has allowed nine runs, 11 hits and eight walks with one strikeout. Hernández has been dealing with the discomfort in his left, non-throwing elbow for approximately a month, according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. That could be a factor in his poor hitting this season. Advertisement Outfielder James Outman was called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City to take Hernández's place on the active roster. In his previous major-league stints this season, Outman has batted .125/.222/.375 with two home runs and four RBI in nine games. However, in 333 plate appearances at Triple-A, he's hit .289 with a 970 OPS, 20 doubles, 20 homers, 74 RBI and 14 stolen bases. Additionally, the Dodgers are calling up right-handed reliever Julian Fernández, who has 32 strikeouts in 28 2/3 innings with a 4.08 ERA. Left-hander Justin Wrobleski was sent down to Oklahoma City. In eight games (two starts), he compiled a 4.08 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 40 innings. Infielder CJ Alexander was also designated for assignment, four days after claiming him off waivers from the New York Yankees.
Yahoo
44 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Dodgers place Kiké Hernández on injured list and call up James Outman to headline series of moves
Los Angeles Dodgers' Kike Hernandez (8) celebrates with Andy Pages (44) after hitting a two-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Sunday, June 29, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Kike Hernandez tosses the ball to the pitcher at first to get the out on Kansas City Royals' Jac Caglianone during the fourth inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 29, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Kike Hernandez tosses the ball to the pitcher at first to get the out on Kansas City Royals' Jac Caglianone during the fourth inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 29, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Los Angeles Dodgers' Kike Hernandez (8) celebrates with Andy Pages (44) after hitting a two-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Sunday, June 29, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Kike Hernandez tosses the ball to the pitcher at first to get the out on Kansas City Royals' Jac Caglianone during the fourth inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 29, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) MILWAUKEE (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers utilityman Kiké Hernández went on the injured list with left elbow inflammation and outfielder James Outman got called up from the minors among a series of moves the NL West leaders made Monday. The Dodgers also called up right-handed pitcher Julian Fernández, optioned left-hander Justin Wrobleski to Triple-A Oklahoma City and designated infielder CJ Alexander for assignment before beginning a three-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers. Advertisement Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Hernández started getting bothered by the elbow issue during a series in Cleveland at the end of May. 'There was a slide there at home plate where it really started to act up and bother him,' Roberts said. 'At that point in time, he kept it to himself, just wanting to be out there and compete. It just continually got worse and really impacted his offense and his swing. And so just a couple of days ago it really reached a head where it was pretty much intolerable.' Hernández has hit just .109 (6 of 55) since the start of June. The 33-year-old is batting .195 with a .259 on-base percentage, eight homers and 22 RBIs in 71 games this season. Roberts said the Dodgers are hopeful Hernández could return shortly after the All-Star break. Advertisement Outman, 28, batted .125 (3 of 24) with two homers and four RBIs in nine games during an earlier stint with Los Angeles this season. He has been hitting .289 with a .378 on-base percentage, 20 homers, 74 RBIs and 14 steals in 70 games with Triple-A Oklahoma City. The Dodgers arrived in Milwaukee after getting swept in a three-game home series with Houston that underscored their roster issues due to various nagging injuries. Outfielder Teoscar Hernández and second baseman Tommy Edman didn't play in a 5-1 loss to the Astros on Sunday and remained out of the lineup Monday, though neither player was placed on the injured list. Teoscar Hernández fouled a ball off his left foot and Edman fouled a ball off his right foot Saturday in a 6-4 loss to the Astros. Edman ended up with a fractured toe. Roberts said both players could be available off the bench the next couple of days and expressed hope they might be able to start Wednesday. Advertisement Fernández, 29, was 3-0 with a 4.08 ERA and 32 strikeouts over 28 2/3 innings in 24 appearances with Oklahoma City. Wrobleski, 24, was 4-3 with a 4.50 ERA and 40 strikeouts over 40 innings in eight appearances with Los Angeles. The Dodgers had just claimed Alexander off waivers from the New York Yankees last week before designating him for assignment Monday. ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
44 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Back-to-back Lightning Stanley Cup champion Tyler Johnson announces his retirement from the NHL
Tyler Johnson has announced his retirement after playing 13 NHL seasons and winning the Stanley Cup twice with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Johnson called it a career in a lengthy message posted on social media Monday. Johnson had battled injuries in recent years and is set to turn 35 on July 29. Advertisement 'As a short kid from a small town, I saw my chances of playing in the NHL as very slim,' Johnson wrote on Instagram. 'But my family — my parents, Ken and Debbie, and my grandparents — believed in me when doubt clouded my mind. Their unwavering faith turned that dream into reality.' Listed at 5-foot-8 and 191 pounds, Johnson won at just about ever level, capturing the Western Hockey League and Memorial Cup championships in 2008 with his hometown Spokane Chiefs and the Calder Cup championship with Norfolk of the American Hockey League in 2012. The NHL brought more success, as he skated in 863 regular-season and playoff games since debuting in the league in 2013, putting up 498 points. Johnson was part of the Lightning's core when they reached the final in 2015 and helped them hoist the Cup back to back in 2020 and '21. Johnson finished with Chicago, playing three seasons with the Blackhawks, and Boston, signing with the Bruins early last season following his training camp tryout. 'After a lifetime devoted to hockey, I'm ready for what's next,' Johnson said. 'This moment is bittersweet, but I leave the game with no regrets.' ___ AP NHL:
