“UNACCEPTABLE”: Fans react as Alex Bowman suffers unfortunate start at Michigan

Alex Bowman had a shaky start at Michigan International Speedway after reporting vibration in his car. Considering how Bowman has been struggling to fight at the front this year, some fans were disappointed with the driver's early run on Sunday (June 8).

Bowman, driver of the #48 Chevrolet Camaro at Hendrick Motorsports, has yet to score his first win of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. He entered the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan 12th in the points standings, which is quite underwhelming, as his teammates sit in the top five.

Ally Racing, the 32-year-old's NASCAR sponsor, shared an X post about the #48 Chevy's early troubles at the 2.0-mile track.

“Caution is out for Stage 1. @Alex_Bowman says he had zero to lean on with the right rear and had a vibration at the end of the run. P32,” Ally Racing wrote.

In response, several fans were disappointed with how Alex Bowman's season has been turning out. One X user described the situation as “unacceptable” as Bowman ran around Rick Ware Racing in an HMS racecar.

“UNACCEPTABLE for the car to be that f**king bad. We are HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS racing around Rick Ware Racing. Like what the f**k. It's time for a change and start with Blake (Harris). Embarrassing!!!” the fan said.

“Embarrassing performance from the 48 team,” another fan commented.

Some fans argued that Bowman's campaign was over, halfway through the regular season.

“Pack it up season over,” an X user stated.

“48 is gonna miss the playoffs at this rate,” another fan claimed.

The chemistry between Alex Bowman and crew chief Blake Harris was also criticized. Harris took the role two years ago when Greg Ives stepped down from the #48 team.

“Alex made a mistake taking a chance on Blake. He's just not a good CC (crew chief).... He's just not. They have no chemistry to fix the car ever! Very rarely do they. But Blake just isn't the guy I'm sorry,” one fan said.

“This team has consistently failed Alex week in and week out. Love him in the 48, but I would not be surprised at all if he leaves for a better opportunity,” another X user commented.

Alex Bowman later crashed and hit the wall hard head-on in stage two on lap 67. His car's front left was tapped by the #41 Ford of Cole Custer before the red flag was waved. He was sent to the infield care center and was released.

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“It's been a rough two months”: Alex Bowman on his season after being released from infield care center at Michigan

After Alex Bowman was cleared from the infield care center, the #48 Chevrolet driver admitted that he had been having a tough season. His most recent outing at Michigan International Speedway gave him his third DNF of the year.

Speaking to Amazon Prime's pit reporter Kim Coon, the Hendrick Motorsports driver said:

“Couldn't really do anything except, ‘Oh s**t, it's about to hurt, really. Yeah, hate that. Hate that for our team. It's been a rough two months so just got to keep digging.” [0:30]

Next on the schedule is the inaugural Viva Mexico 250 at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. It will be Amazon Prime's penultimate NASCAR coverage before concluding at Pocono Raceway the following week.