NASCAR Cup Series

Alex Bowman's day takes a disappointing turn at Charlotte Motor Speedway

Published Nov. 15, 2016 3:20 p.m. ET

Joe Menzer

What appeared to be a promising day for Alex Bowman in the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet took a devastating turn when he had a tire go down on Lap 62 of Sunday’s Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

It caused Bowman to hit the outside wall coming out of Turn 4, where he also collected the No. 13 car of driver Casey Mears.

Bowman’s car was so heavily damaged that he had to take it to the garage. It was a disappointing turn to a day that began with Bowman in the second starting position after the best qualifying effort of his Sprint Cup career.

After getting checked out and cleared medically in the infield care center, Bowman confirmed that the wreck appeared to be the result of a blown tire, but he said he didn’t know why.

“It’s nobody’s fault. We just must have run something over. It’s unfortunate and I hate it for all the guys," said Bowman, who was subbing for Dale Earnhardt Jr., the usual driver of the No. 88 who is out for the season with a concussion.