"I feel terrible" - Kyle Larson shares his thoughts on "huge bummer" Alex Bowman DQ decision for HMS
Kyle Larson recently shared his thoughts about Alex Bowman's disqualification from the ROVAL playoff race. After the final playoff race in the Round of 12, NASCAR found Bowman's #48 Chevy Camaro in violation of the rules and handed the driver a DQ.
Following this, Bowman's team, Hendrick Motorsports announced that they won't appeal against NASCAR's ruling. This series of events meant that Alex Bowman was out of the playoffs, while his other three HMS teammates remain in contention for the Cup championship.
Speaking about this ahead of Las Vegas, Kyle Larson said that Bowman being out of the playoffs was 'a huge bummer' inside the Hendrick camp.
"It was just a huge bummer for everybody that’s a part of Hendrick Motorsports; Rick and Linda (Hendrick). Having four cars in the Round of 8... like that’s a huge feat and it’s something that I think everyone was really proud of. Yeah, just a bummer that it worked out that way.
"I feel terrible for Alex. It’s really got nothing to do with him. He did everything possible. He’s done a great job throughout the playoffs. Definitely the most improved, I feel like, out of any driver in the playoffs, or any driver in the series, over these first-six races or whatever it’s been" [5:20]"
Larson added he was 'super bummed' for Alex Bowman, the entire #48 crew, and everyone in HMS.
He also said that if Bowman hadn't been disqualified and would've been a part of the Playoffs, it would have been "cool" to give Rick Hendrick a 50% chance of having a championship.
Chase Elliott had a reaction similar to Kyle Larson's on Alex Bowman's DQ result
Ahead of the playoff race at Las Vegas last weekend, Chase Elliott was asked for his thoughts on Alex Bowman's disqualification. The 2020 Cup champion said he was "just as surprised as anyone" to learn that Bowman was handed a DQ result.
Much like Kyle Larson, the #9 driver remarked that he was bummed for Bowman and his crew chief for all the gains the #48 team has made in the last few weeks. He said (via Frontstretch),
"I think they’ve done a really nice job over the last couple of months, in particular, and really earned their into having a shot at the championship, in my view."
Chase Elliott added, however, that while a few pounds don't make a lot of difference in the outcome of the race, the rule still stands as 'black and white.'
NASCAR's "most popular" driver added that with Bowman being disqualified for his car being not the ideal weight after the race, there wasn't much that could've been done to reverse that result which would've put the #48 driver in the playoffs again.