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Alex Bowman fires back at accusations, defends Kyle Larson, Ricky Stenhouse

Stephen Samraby:Steve Samra•01/25/25•

SamraSource

Alex Bowman
Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images

Alex Bowman didn’t take too kindly to social media trolls disparaging his team, as well as his fellow NASCAR wheelman who competed in last weekend’s Chili Bowl in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

While Kyle Larson was eventually victorious once again in the event, other NASCAR wheelmen like Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Bowman himself were in the news, as well. Bowman’s team, Alex Bowman Racing, fielded multiple entries, but was accused of tire-prepping, and the Hendrick Motorsports star came to his defense on X, bringing receipts with him.

“Typically don’t respond to fake accounts but I take this pretty personal considering I mounted, sized, grooved, and ground all 44 tires we brought to Tulsa,” Bowman said, regarding the chatter. “You should probably come up with better rumors since Chili Bowl posts the receipts.”

Evidently, the comment struck a nerve with Bowman, and it’s tough to blame him. After all the flack his team received during the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season when they were disqualified at the end of the Round of 12, he’s not willing to let anyone throw dirt on his name, or anything he’s associated with.

Regardless, NASCAR drivers competing in events like the Chili Bowl is something to be excited about, and it’s certainly not a shared sentiment that talent like Alex Bowman, Kyle Larson and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. should stay away from the event. One lesson was learned at least, if you come at the No. 48 wheelman, you better come correct.

Kyle Larson reflects on wild ride to third career Chili Bowl Nationals win

Meanwhile, Kyle Larson had not one, but two moments when it looked like his race was done for on the way to his third-career Chili Bowl Nationals win. Larson has won this event in 2020, 2021, and now 2025. On top of his Tulsa Shootout performance, he has three Golden Drillers for this year alone. 

Kyle Larson is the guy who hops into whatever and gets the job done. But in his midget car on dirt, he is in his element. Larson joins Christopher Bell and the father-son duo of Sammy and Kevin Swindell as the only three-time winners ever in the Chili Bowl.

With the third Golden Driller now secured, Larson passes the likes of Tony Stewart and Rico Abreu. He is now tied with Bell, perhaps his biggest competition on dirt and asphalt talent-wise. 

Kyle Larson ran over a lapped car early on. Late in the race he hit the wall and ripped a banner down. Still, the pole-sitter never gave up the lead despite a hard charge from Daison Pursley.

“I just ramped kinda over the front of his race car and yeah, kind of just jumped him, really,” Larson explained in the postrace press conference. “It stalled midair and when it was getting ready to land I was just like, ‘Please, please, please refire.’ And it refired. So, yeah, I felt like, you know, you only get one break not two, and then later on I got another big break.”

The second break was perhaps the deciding factor in the race. He got away with one here, but Kyle Larson was still able to add another trophy to his collection in Tulsa.

— On3’s Jonathan Howard contributed to this article.