Alex Bowman’s Kansas weekend was anything but ordinary. Despite qualifying 21st, Bowman methodically worked his way through the field, ultimately securing a hard-fought fifth-place finish. Kansas has become a stronghold for Bowman, with a 6.8 average finish since 2022 that matches his best on any oval. This has helped Hendrick Motorsports achieve an incredible feat in the current points standings. Kyle Larson at 1st, William Byron at 2nd, Chase Elliott at 4th, and Bowman at 8th…. The entire team is a playoff chartbuster! But while the result looked solid on paper, the race itself was a wild ride behind the scenes.
Especially for Alex Bowman, the closing laps brought a new kind of frustration. This one didn’t come from battling the frontrunners, but from unexpected and questionable tactics by a rival from Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing. Alex Bowman’s post-race radio chatter related to Denny Hamlin and others was a hot topic after Kansas, prompting a reporter to ask if he was going to win the ‘radio sweetheart’ this week. For context, it is an unofficial NASCAR fan favorite award, spotlighting the most colorful, frustrated, or dramatic radio moments from drivers during a race weekend. And Bowman’s replies were fitting!
Alex Bowman calls out Riley Herbst’s tactics after chaotic Kansas finish
Bowman’s frustration stemmed from an unusual battle with a lapped car. “I was pretty fired up, so maybe. I don’t know, I’ve never had lap cars that are three laps down, mirror drive the s— out of you for the end of a stage. Like, that was the craziest thing I’ve ever been a part of. Like, what I don’t know what we’re doing on that deal, but uh, well, I know it’s pretty obvious what we’re doing,” he said. But, hey! What’s mirror driving? Well, it refers to a slower car constantly blocking or changing lanes to keep a faster car behind. And doing so requires staring at the mirror rather than the road, hence the name.
In NASCAR, this tactic is generally frowned upon, especially from cars several laps down, as it disrupts the flow for lead-lap contenders. And when the reporter asked him who it was, Alex Bowman didn’t hold himself back from pointing fingers. In a moment, the No. 48 driver’s anger was directed at Riley Herbst. He went on, saying, “The 35 about killed Brad [Keselowski] and I there at the end, trying to help his teammate that was behind us.” But helping a teammate is like an unsaid NASCAR rule. Of course, that’s not why Bowman is angry. It is because of the way he did it.
Riley Herbst, driver of the No. 35 car for 23XI Racing, was running multiple laps down. Seeing two drivers of the lead lap approaching, he aggressively blocked both Alex Bowman and Brad Keselowski in the closing laps of the stage. His actions appeared aimed at protecting his 23XI teammate, Bubba Wallace, who was right behind the two drivers, potentially to help Wallace gain stage points or track position. And the HMS driver knows it. He said, “I get it. Like we’re all racing and part of it. Unfortunately, he’s like three laps down like… what are we doing?” Seems like helping a teammate does not concern Bowman, but trying to do it while being three laps down is boiling his blood. However, he let it pass soon.
With acceptance reflecting from his words, Alex Bowman summed up the chaos with, “You’ll have that, it’s big time auto racing, right?” His experience at Kansas highlights the fine line between team tactics and fair play, especially when lapped cars interfere with the outcome for lead-lap drivers. Will NASCAR address these controversial moves, or are such antics now part of the high-stakes strategy game in the Cup Series? That can be figured out if we understand where the ‘blue flag rule’ of the sport is.
Lapped cars in NASCAR vs other motorsports
In NASCAR, lapped cars, those running one or more laps behind the leader, play a unique and sometimes controversial role in race dynamics. Unlike series with strict blue flag rules, NASCAR allows lapped cars to continue racing, but with expectations. They should not impede the leaders or those on the lead lap, especially in the closing stages or during critical battles for position. NASCAR’s flagman uses a blue flag with a yellow diagonal stripe, known as the “move over” flag, to signal lapped cars to yield when leaders approach. But, unfortunately, enforcement is less rigid than in Formula 1 or IndyCar.
There is no limit to how many times a car can be lapped in a NASCAR race. Moreover, lapped cars are not automatically removed from competition. However, when a lapped car is several laps down, drivers are generally expected to avoid racing aggressively against lead-lap cars. This is primarily to prevent unnecessary incidents. This expectation is rooted in both etiquette and safety, as seen in past controversies where lapped cars have caused accidents involving front-runners. During caution periods, NASCAR’s procedures also distinguish between lead-lap and lapped cars. Lead-lap cars pit first, while lapped cars are waved around to rejoin at the back. This allows for different pit strategies and the possibility of the lapped cars to regain a lap under the right circumstances. Then, there’s the ‘lucky dog’ rule where a single-lapped car can unlap itself. But, things are not all sunshine and rainbows in other motorsports.
In contrast, Formula 1 enforces strict blue flag rules. Lapped cars must move aside immediately when approached by a leader, and failure to comply results in penalties. F1 also has specific rules during safety car periods, allowing lapped cars to unlap themselves before a restart. This ensures a clear run for the leaders. These differences mean that lapped cars in NASCAR can have a more direct impact on the race outcome. Sometimes, they lead to frustration for lead-lap drivers, as seen in Kansas.
As NASCAR continues to evolve its rules, the balance between fair racing and minimizing interference from lapped cars remains a key talking point. Should NASCAR adopt stricter blue flag enforcement like F1? Or does its current system add to the sport’s unpredictable drama? What do you think?
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