Alex Boman Scores First NASCAR Cup Series Win At Chicagoland

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Chicagoland Speedway, Joliet, IL — July 1, 2019

With a run of 2nd place finishes and consistently strong showings in race Stages, you knew it would not be long before Alex Bowan(88) captured his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory. That win came yesterday at Chicagoland Speedway.

Praised for his abundant talent, the driver who took over the #88 ride from Dale Earnhardt Jr., showed all of his skills in battling Kyle Larson(42) for the win.

The Race

Austin Dillon(3) won the pole and Kevin Harvick(4) started next to him on the front row for the  Camping World 400. Stages for the race are 80/80/107. A total of 267 laps make up the 400.5-mile race.

Kevin Harvick and Kyle Larson lead the field during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Camping World 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Stage 1

Dillon took the lead at the drop of the green flag with Jimmie Johnson(48) moving up from his 4th starting position to challenge for the lead in the early laps. The 7-time Champion took the top spot on Lap 8. On Lap 11 a nearby lightning strike brings the field to pit road as the red flag is displayed. Fans and crews are advised to seek shelter.

The official delay was three hours, 18 minutes and 26 seconds before racing resumed. Another 5 caution laps preceded the green flag. It only took Austin Dillon two laps to regain the lead. Two laps later, Harvick was out front for the first time.

Harvick leads the majority of the laps in the first Stage until a flat tire sends him to pit road on Lap 73. A rash of late pit stops jumbles the stage standings. Denny Hamlin takes the green and white checkered for the Stage win.

Stage 1 Results

Car Driver Stage Points
11 Denny Hamlin 10
2 Brad Keselowski* 9
34 Michael McDowell* 8
48 Jimmie Johnson 7
3 Austin Dillon 6
19 Martin Truex Jr. 5
4 Kevin Harvick* 4
24 William Byron 3
88 Alex Bowman 2
1 Kurt Busch 1

* Ford Mustang Drivers

Stage 2

Harvick is back into the lead at the beginning of Stage 2. William Byron(24) worked his way to the front at Lap 100. He keeps the lead through a caution flag and pit stops. Until Johnson pushes Harvick back out front and the race settles into the predictable pattern of Stage 1.

William Byron at Chicagoland Speedway. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Chase Elliott(9) makes a late Stage run at Harvick who manages to fend him off and win his 4th Stage of the season.

Stage 2 Results

Car Driver Stage Points
4 Kevin Harvick* 10
9 Chase Elliott 9
42 Kyle Larson 8
88 Alex Bowman 7
48 Jimmie Johnson 6
19 Martin Truex Jr. 5
24 William Byron 4
1 Kurt Busch 3
18 Kyle Busch 2
10 Aric Almirola* 1

* Ford Mustang Drivers

The Final Stage

In a four-way shuffle for the lead, Kyle Larson(42) emerges in the top spot. A few laps later Bowman is out front as Harvick scrapes the outside wall, setting up for the battle that will determine the victor. Larson and Bowman race side-by-side, but Bowman prevails and begins to build a lead. Until he pits on Lap 219.

After the field cycled through pit stops, Bowman returned to the front with Larson almost three seconds back. As the laps wind down Larson begins to close the gap. With 10 laps to go, Larson is within a quarter of a second behind Bowman.

With seven laps to go Larson gets beside the #88 car and edges ahead. But, two laps later Bowman moves back out front. He holds on for that elusive first Cup Series Win. Locking down a playoff spot in the process.

Alex Bowman celebrates with a burnout after winning the Camping World 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)

Next week it’s back to Daytona for the Coke Zero Sugar 400, Saturday Night under the lights.

 

Results of the Camping World 400 From Chicagoland Speedway

Position	Car	Driver	Laps
1	88	Alex Bowman	267
2	42	Kyle Larson	267
3	22	Joey Logano	267
4	48	Jimmie Johnson	267
5	2	Brad Keselowski	267
6	12	Ryan Blaney	267
7	20	Erik Jones	267
8	24	William Byron	267
9	19	M. Truex Jr.	267
10	3	Austin Dillon	267
11	9	Chase Elliott	267
12	17	R. Stenhouse Jr	267
13	1	Kurt Busch	267
14	4	Kevin Harvick	267
15	11	Denny Hamlin	267
16	10	Aric Almirola	267
17	6	Ryan Newman	267
18	37	Chris Buescher	266
19	8	Daniel Hemric	266
20	34	M. McDowell	266
21	21	Paul Menard	266
22	18	Kyle Busch	266
23	38	David Ragan	265
24	41	Daniel Suarez	265
25	43	Bubba Wallace	264
26	15	Ross Chastain	264
27	95	M. DiBenedetto	264
28	47	Ryan Preece	264
29	36	Matt Tifft	263
30	32	Corey LaJoie	263
31	0	Landon Cassill	260
32	52	Bayley Currey	258
33	53	Josh Bilicki	257
34	27	Reed Sorenson	249
35	13	Ty Dillon	239
36	51	B.J. McLeod	238
37	14	Clint Bowyer	172
38	77	Quin Houff	100

Points / Playoff Standings

Rank	Driver	Points	Wins
4	Joey Logano	677	2
1	Kyle Busch	659	4
3	Brad Keselowski	610	3
8	Kevin Harvick	610	0
2	M. Truex Jr.	581	4
5	Denny Hamlin	574	2
6	Chase Elliott	570	1
9	Kurt Busch	537	0
7	Alex Bowman	509	1
10	Ryan Blaney	499	0
11	Aric Almirola	482	0
12	William Byron	455	0
13	Kyle Larson	451	0
14	Jimmie Johnson	436	0
15	Daniel Suarez	434	0
16	Clint Bowyer	431	0
Playoff Cut Line			
17	Erik Jones	416	0
18	Ryan Newman	411	0
19	R. Stenhouse Jr	373	0
20	Paul Menard	369	0