After a night where his own fate slipped from his grasp, Alex Bowman earns the sixteenth and final spot in the 2025 NASCAR Cup series playoffs.

Photo: Ryan Kemna/TRE

Bowman enters the playoffs winless, joining only Tyler Reddick in that category. Despite his current 43 race winless drought, his consistency has been top-notch. After 26 regular season races, he boasts 14 top 10’s which lies tied for second most this year only trailing his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson.

With 12 top 10 starts and poles at Homestead-Miami and Bristol, the speed provided can yield success.

While his consistency and raw speed has shown itself, his regular season still had its bumps. 4 DNF’s and many other incidents leading to limping his car home has hindered how great his regular season could have been. Without a win, Bowman has been overshadowed by his Hendrick teammates William Byron, Kyle Larson, and Chase Elliott this season.

That had been a familiar take for Alex. Closing races has been his primary weakness. Falling short of wins at Homestead, Kansas, and Richmond provides worry for a driver entering the playoffs in a point deficit.

In a playoff system that values victories over consistency, he still lacks the big moment ability to change his playoff narrative.

Alex Bowman’s 2025 Playoff Outlook

Photo: Ryan Kemna/TREPhoto: Marcus Leno/TRE

Alex Bowman has the capabilities and the team behind him to make a deep playoff run. Here’s what each round may bring to him.

Round of 16: Darlington, Gateway, Bristol

This round provides this team to right their wrongs from earlier in the season. At Darlington, he was running near the top 10 at a track where he only has 4 top 10’s in 15 starts. On lap 224 he the wall finishing 37th their earlier this season. An engine failure led to his early departure from Bristol the weekend after. If he avoids those setbacks, and adds a first top 10 at Gateway, he could point his way into the round of 12.

Round of 12: New Hampshire, Kansas, Charlotte Roval

As the playoff progress, Bowman’s track prowess improves. While New Hampshire has been trouble with three DNF’s in his last four starts, Kansas and the Roval rank among his most consistent tracks. If he leans on his consistency, the round of 8 could be within reach.

Round of 8: Las Vegas, Talladega, Martinsville

Championship 4: Phoenix

The round of 8 limits the value of Bowman’s consistency and puts the focus on winning. There are two tracks in this round where he’s found victory lane before. Another win at Las Vegas or Martinsville would punch his ticket to the championship race at Phoenix.

Alex Bowman Overview

2025 Stats:

0 Wins

2 Poles (Homestead-Miami & Bristol)

6 top 5’s & 14 top 10’s

4 DNF’s (Both Daytona races, Texas, Michigan, Bristol – engine)

15.4 avg start, 16.41 avg finish

160 laps led out of 5,854 completed laps

Strengths:

Better consistency in the regular season than previous seasons

Having Hendrick Motorsport backing/equipment

Weaknesses:

Winless – does not provide that spark needed for deep playoff run

Closing out races

Hard start to the round of 16 due to past performances this season