Alex Bowman thought he had secured a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs on Sunday when he finished 18th and won Stage 2 of the Bank of America Roval 400 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course.
About two hours into the race, Bowman was forced to hit the brakes.
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Alex Bowman during practice and qualifying for the Bank of America Roval 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina on October 12, 2024. (Peter Casey-Image Images)
NASCAR determined that Bowman's No. 48 vehicle did not meet the minimum weight requirement in its post-race inspection. Officials disqualified Bowman and dropped him to 38th place. That meant Bowman did not earn enough points to make the playoffs and was eliminated from the Round of 8.
Instead, Joey Logano was pushed to last place in the next round. Logano joined Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott and Tyler Reddick.
Larson won the race for his sixth victory of the 2024 season.
NASCAR DRIVER RICKY STENHOUSE JR WINS AT TALLADEGA BY .006 SECONDS
Kyle Larson, center, celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, on Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Bowman won the Chicago Street Course race over the summer and that helped him solidify a spot in NASCAR's version of the postseason. In the last five races leading up to the Charlotte race, he recorded three top-10 finishes and one top-five finish.
But their season will end on a disappointing note.
There are three races in the Round of 8, and it begins next weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, moves to Homestead-Miami Speedway on October 27, and finishes at Martinsville Speedway on November 3. Four drivers will advance to the championship race after the round.
Alex Bowman exits Turn 3 during a NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, on October 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
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The NASCAR Cup Series Championship is scheduled for Nov. 10.
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