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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe #48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro of Alex Bowman. Image: Ally Racing<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe #48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro of Alex Bowman. Image: Ally Racing<\/p>\n
In the closing stage of the 400-lapper NASCAR Cup Series race, Bowman closed the margin to race leader Austin Dillon in the #3 Richard Childress Racing Camaro.<\/p>\n
Bowman in the #48 Camaro had to navigate lapped traffic to get to Dillon, but ultimately fell short.<\/p>\n
Van Gisbergen was among the lapped traffic, as well as Dillon\u2019s teammate Jesse Love in the #33 Camaro. The pair ran side-by-side for a spell \u2013 Love on the low line and van Gisbergen up high.<\/p>\n
Audio of Bowman\u2019s radio transmission with his team painted the picture of a frustrating final stint for the #48 driver.<\/p>\n
Bowman\u2019s spotter said he spoke to van Gisbergen\u2019s spotter Josh Williams to have the Kiwi move out of the way.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been to Josh three times and he said he was going to help. I guess it\u2019s not getting relayed,\u201d said Bowman\u2019s spotter.<\/p>\n
A lap later he continued: \u201cThey\u2019re not going to help. They hate us. He\u2019s not racing anybody either, which is awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bowman expressed his frustration, first at Love and then van Gisbergen.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis teammate is just f***ing blocking me now,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is race manipulation, but whatever.\u201d<\/p>\n
As he battled van Gisbergen, Bowman got more heated over the radio.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll he needs to do is give us the f***ing [corner] exit,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy is it so hard with team Chevrolet?\u201d<\/p>\n
Post-race, Bowman weaved in front of van Gisbergen before throwing his hand out the window.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Inthe\u00a0 pit lane, the American offered a measured response when asked about the final stanza.<\/p>\n
\u201cHad a really good (car) in the last run,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust broke the tyres off too much in lap traffic. Didn\u2019t get any breaks. That made me kind of work the rears harder than I need to. Just need to be a little better through there to get to him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bowman said he needed \u201cfavours\u201d from the Chevrolet-affiliated teams to have a chance of chasing down Dillon.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes you get them, sometimes you don\u2019t,\u201d said Bowan.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs frustrated as I was, I just needed to be better and take care of my tyres a little better.<\/p>\n
\u201cShenanigans with the #4 (Noah Gragson) heated up my rears and then I just couldn\u2019t get going again. Bummer on that but proud of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe #33 (Jesse Love) was really fast and then stopped right in front of me for a while, which, I don\u2019t know, maybe his stuff (tyres) fell off really quick.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was just really frustrated on the radio and sometimes that push-to-talk button just lets you down a little bit. Just needed to be better.\u201d<\/p>\n
Van Gisbergen finished one lap down in 14th to equal his season-best result achieved earlier in the year at Charlotte Motor Speedway.<\/p>\n
The NASCAR Cup Series regular season continues in a week at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, August 24 (AEST).<\/p>\n
Bowman said he does not expect to get any favours from other Chevrolet teams there to advance to the Playoffs. He is effectively in a must-win position to advance.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe team, clearly we\u2019re not very popular through the garage with that last run,\u201d said Bowman.<\/p>\n
\u201cStill doing a really good job and executing at a high level. Just proud of all the guys to continue to work hard and try to overcome the situation we\u2019re in, and we\u2019ll keep digging.\u201d<\/p>\n