The NASCAR Cup Series race took a scary turn in stage two as Alex Bowman’s car crumbled after contact with the outside wall. Well, Michigan is the fastest track on the NASCAR schedule. Remember how Chase Briscoe clocked 195.514 mph in qualifying? That’s the quickest pole for the next-gen car so far.
Given the low tire wear and the smooth 18-degree turns at Michigan, cars tend to go fast. This is what caused the NASCAR community to chill, looking at the angle and speed of Bowman’s crash.
Alex Bowman Was Involved in a Scary Crash at the Michigan International Speedway
Here’s what happened: in stage two, Bowman was running 29th among the 36 cars on the field. That’s when Austin Cindric in the #2 car made contact with the left rear of Cole Custer’s car. In a domino effect, the Haas Factory Team driver drove up and wrecked into Bowman.
With his #48 Chevy headfirst into the wall, Bowman’s reaction on the radio was: “That one was really f–ing big.” The red flag was out as NASCAR cleared the debris.
The red flag is out at @MISpeedway after this incident involving multiple cars.@Alex_Bowman exited the No. 48 under his own power. pic.twitter.com/hP4HV8rbKN
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 8, 2025
This had fans worried for Bowman’s well-being. One wrote, “Oh my ***, please tell me he’s okay!?” Bowman managed to climb out of the car alone and was soon released from in-field care after the mandatory check-ups. Also, NASCAR in an X post shared the update, “Alex Bowman and Cole Custer were evaluated and released from the infield care center.”
Alex Bowman and Cole Custer were evaluated and released from the infield care center.
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 8, 2025
Fans were relieved to see him unscathed. One Bowman fan wrote, “Thankful that Bowman is ok, and as a Bowman fan, there’s no excuse why the 48 was even back there in the first place.” Bowman started in P16 but dropped positions as the race progressed. It surprised his fans, as the #48 Chevy has been fast this year. Entering the race, he sat 12th in the Cup Series points table.
Also, Bowman’s crash had one fan laud NASCAR for prioritizing safety in the next-gen car. The crash was reminiscent of Dale Earnhardt Sr’s Daytona 500 one. He dove headfirst into the wall, too. Unfortunately, the massive impact led to his passing. Since then, the racing organization has worked to make the cars safer, thanks to which a deadly crash like this left Bowman unharmed.
One fan wrote, “That’s the kind of impact that used to be fatal. The safety put into this sport goes unnoticed.” Even in the 2025 Daytona 500, we saw Ryan Preece involved in a scary crash but also unscathed. Let’s hope they continue to prioritize safety over all else in the future.