Alex Bowman won the 20th NASCAR Cup race of the regular season on the Chicago Street Course on rain tires in the Hendrick Chevrolet. It was Bowman’s first win of the season, his first success in Chicago and his eighth career win.
Heavy, persistent rain caused a delay in the start and an interruption in the second edition of the race on the street course in the ‘Windy City’. As in the previous year, the race did not go the full distance and was shortened due to the onset of darkness.
Stage 1/2: Guest drivers van Gisbergen and Hand win the two stages
On Saturday, Kyle Larson won qualifying in the Hendrick Chevrolet. It was his fifth pole award this season. Pole-setter Larson was immediately overtaken by Ty Gibbs in the Gibbs Toyota, who had also started from the front row. From lap twelve, last year’s winner Shane van Gisbergen took over at the front in the Kaulig Chevrolet. Then the rain got heavier and Gisbergen took the stage win after 20 laps under yellow ahead of Gibbs teammates Christopher Bell and Ty Gibbs.
The second stage over 25 laps began with a bang. Chase Briscoe (SHR-Ford) unfortunately hit the rear of Gisbergen. The three-time Supercars champion flew into the wall and finished the race in last place (40th). Then the race had to be stopped two laps later on lap 26 due to heavy rain. The red phase lasted 105 minutes.
After the restart, the two Gibbs drivers Bell and Gibbs led the field again. Larson, a second favorite, crashed into a tire stack and was only classified in 39th place. One lap before the end of the stage, Joey Hand took the lead in the third RFK Ford and took the stage victory ahead of Bowman and RFK teammate Brad Keselowski. This was the first time that two Open Team guest drivers won both stages in one race.
Stage 3/Goal: 10 yellow phases, 5 overtimes, Logano wins
The last segment had to be completed at 9:20 p.m. local time and was shortened from 50 to 13 laps due to the onset of darkness. Hand led until lap 50, when Bowman was able to overtake him. There was a fifth yellow phase before Bowman was able to defend his lead on the last five laps. Bowman won after 80 unsuccessful races and secured a playoff ticket.
Top 10 & overall standings
Behind Bowman, Reddick finished second, three seconds behind Gibbs, who finished with the most laps led. It was Reddick’s third consecutive top-six finish. Hand finished a strong fourth, ahead of Michael McDowell, Ricky Stenhouse Junior, Todd Gilliland, William Byron, Kyle Busch and defending champion Ryan Blaney in tenth.
After 20 races, Bowman is the twelfth winner of the season. There were no changes in the overall standings up to 20th place.
Gallery: All pictures from the Chicago Street Course
Statistics for the 20th race of the season (Regular Season)
Laps & race duration:
58 instead of 75 (stages: 20/25/13 instead of 50) laps (127.6 miles), race duration: 2:19:24 hours
Winner:
Alex Bowman (1st win in 2024, 1st Chicago win, 8th career win)
Best driver with the most points:
Alex Bowman, 54 (5/9/40) points
Stage wins (2024):
Stage 1: Shane van Gisbergen (1/without playoff ranking)
Top 10: #16, 20, 54, 14, 5, 48, 23, 38, 45, 99
Stage 2: Joey Hand (1/no playoff ranking)
Top 10: #60, 48, 6, 77, 19, 10, 31, 47, 21, 11
Stage 3/Goal: Alex Bowman (1st win 2024)
Top 10: #48, 45, 54, 60, 34, 47, 38, 24, 8, 12
NASCAR Cup standings
TOP 20 (after race 20/36)
Regular Season 2024
(with all bonus points & penalties)
—–
all winners (races 1-26):
1. (1) Kyle Larson, 671 points (3 wins)
2. (2) Denny Hamlin, 629 points (3 wins)
3. (4) William Byron, 599 points (3 wins)
4. (3) Christopher Bell, 586 points (3 wins)
5. (5) Chase Elliott, 660 points (1 win)
6. (6) Tyler Reddick, 648 points (1 win)
7. (7) Ryan Blaney, 587 points (1 win)
8. (8) Brad Keselowski, 558 points (1 win)
9. (16) Alex Bowman, 553 points (1 win)
10. (9) Joey Logano, 484 points (1 win)
11. (10) Daniel Suarez, 410 points (1 win)
12. (11) Austin Cindric, 389 points (1 win)
—–
Total points (without win):
13. (12) Martin Truex Jr., 601 points
14. (13) Ty Gibbs, 560 points
15. (14) Ross Chastain, 529 points
16. (15) Chris Buescher, 521 points
—–
On the bubble:
17. (17) Bubba Wallace, 476 points
18. (18) Chase Briscoe, 433 points
19. (19) Kyle Busch, 423 points
20. (20) Todd Gilliland, 400 points
The first 16 drivers are qualified for the PLAYOFFS
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