Alex Bowman Recovers from Troubles for Career Best Sprint Cup Finish at Kansas Speedway

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Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, sits in his car prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on October 16, 2016 in Kansas City, Kansas. Photo - Jason Hanna/Getty Images

Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, sits in his car prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on October 16, 2016 in Kansas City, Kansas. Photo – Jason Hanna/Getty Images

Alex Bowman had a topsy-turvy day at Kansas Speedway, but when the checkered flag flew in Sunday’s afternoon Hollywood Casino 400, the Hendrick Motorsports driver earned a career-best seventh place finish.

But what made the accomplishment that much more incredible was that the 23-year-old battled the highs and lows while battling a severe stomach bug.

The Tucson, Arizona native qualified inside the top-five for the second consecutive weekend and despite falling through the field with an ill-handling race car in the early stages, Bowman had a resilient attitude.

Following changes after the first caution, Bowman began pedaling back forward but grazed the wall causing damage to the left rear of his No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet. Luckily, the event’s third caution waved on lap 44 for an accident in turn three saving the team for losing crucial laps on pit road.

Restarting 34th, Bowman worked his way back inside the top-15 before making a scheduled stop on Lap 86 for four tires and fuel. Bowman, however, made contact with the wall a few laps later sending him back down pit road for tires and repairs.

Losing two laps in the process, the Hendrick Motorsports team returned to the race in 34th.

Quickly making work of leader Matt Kenseth, Bowman would find himself one lap down on lap 112 and would work hard through strategy to get the other lap back putting the team back on the lead lap and in contention for a strong finish.

Taking advantage of fresh tires on a lap 238 restart, Bowman bolted to fourth but would eventually have to settle for seventh in his sixth start of the year. Previously, Bowman earned his first career top-ten run at Chicagoland Speedway finishing tenth after starting 17th.

Subbing for Dale Earnhardt Jr., who is continuing to recover from concussion-like symptoms, Bowman will drive the No. 88 Chevrolet in four of the remaining five races giving away to four-time Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon at Martinsville Speedway in two weeks.

Earnhardt tweeted a photo of his friend and JR Motorsports driver post-race after his gutsy and worthy performance.