With 15 races remaining in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series regular season, Alex Bowman is steadily closing the gap on the Chase bubble. Currently sitting 127 points behind the cutoff in the driver standings, the Hendrick Motorsports driver has more than half the season left to make his move. In the owner standings, the No. 48 car is in an even stronger position, trailing by just 83 points.

Not long ago, Bowman seemed out of contention, but recent performances have reignited hopes. After battling vertigo symptoms earlier in the season, he has found his stride and is on pace to meet the points target he set for himself. While it remains a long shot, the No. 48 team has a realistic path to the Chase, and Bowman can't be counted out just yet.

To crack the 16-driver field, Bowman needs to gain an average of 8.5 points per race on the Chase bubble. A win before September would certainly accelerate that process, and his back-to-back top-3 finishes are a promising sign. Just two weeks ago, the task seemed nearly impossible, but Bowman is now giving himself a fighting chance with two strong runs under his belt.

As the regular season heats up, every race counts for Bowman and the No. 48 team. Whether through consistent points or a timely victory, the road to the Chase is still open—and Bowman is making sure he's in the conversation.