Harvick sends stark warning to Bowman after NASCAR | Sports News

Kevin Harvick has warned Alex Bowman he wants to begin successful so as to keep his Hendrick Motorsports seat.

Bowman returned to the No. 48 cat at Bristol final weekend after recovering from vertigo that sidelined him for 4 NASCAR Cup Series races, however his comeback comes with added stress.

The 32-year-old enters a pivotal stretch in a contract 12 months, with questions surrounding his long-term future amid recurring health setbacks and a lack of wins in contrast to his high-performing teammates—raising the stakes for a robust summer time run to secure his seat. It comes after, Bowman issued a defiant message after his return.

Harvick, the 2014 Cup Series champion turned FOX Sports analyst, supplied one of essentially the most direct assessments but whereas discussing Bowman’s return on his Happy Hour podcast. “It’s great to have Alex Bowman back in the car,” Harvick stated. “That’s the ride that he had and earned to get to this point. You couldn’t ask for a tougher racetrack to come back to than Bristol with all the G’s and all the heat. It was hot this weekend. Typically not that warm in the spring race at Bristol.

“It’s good to see him back in the car, but now we’re back to analyzing the 48’s performance, and it wasn’t good. Throughout the weekend, they didn’t really have any speed and wound up in an accident.

“Now, they got to concentrate on we’ve got the driver’s health back where it needs to be. Now, what do we got to do to get this car back to where it needs to be, solidly in the top 10? That’ll be the next tall task that they have to figure out. And then … Bowman will have to race to justify his next contract. If you’re going to keep your job, you’re going to have to win.”

However Bowman’s efficiency at Bristol gained’t have carried out his contract scenario any favors. The 32-year-old’s return proved short-lived, lasting simply 160 laps at Bristol within the Food City 500. Contact started when Shane van Gisbergen misplaced control of the No. 97 car and spun, amassing Bowman—who was operating thirty first—close to the wall. John Hunter Nemechek and Todd Gilliland have been additionally caught up within the incident.

The crash ended the day for each Bowman and van Gisbergen, with every driver evaluated and launched from the infield care middle. Bowman, who entered the race thirty sixth within the standings after substitute drivers crammed in during his absence, later spoke with FOX Sports and voiced frustration following his return, initially offering a transient response when requested about how he felt post-vertigo. “I was fine,” Bowman admitted, refusing to say any more.

“Just frustrating day,’ he continued. “Really struggled with our Ally No. 48 Chevy. Thought we have been okay in apply after which we clearly certified [badly].”

“Really struggled with the handling in the present day. Bummer. Hate that. We didn’t get a probability to work on that and end the race. Kind of exterior of your control once you run that dangerous, stuff can occur, and it occurred to us.”

Bowman expressed that he’s looking ahead. “You transfer on to Kansas, one other should-be good race observe for us, this one ought to have been, too,” he said. “That’s simply the best way it really works out subsequent time and we’ll strive again subsequent week.”