In February 2023, Alex Bowman won the pole for the Daytona 500. But for the Hendrick Motorsports driver, the trophy wasn’t the best part of the day. The highlight was having his two dogs, Finn and Roscoe, at the track to celebrate.
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“Any time they’re here, it’s special. I’ve never had them in Victory Lane. It was cool to do that,” Bowman told reporters.
For ten and a half years, Finn, a black Labrador retriever, was by Bowman’s side. Adopted in late 2015, around the time Bowman learned about his firing from his Cup ride via social media, Finn was waiting at home while Bowman spent long hours in the racing simulator, hoping for a second chance. When Bowman finally made it back to the top of the sport to drive the No. 48, Finn stayed by his side through the hardest physical trials.
When a severe concussion cost Bowman five races in 2022, when he fractured his vertebra in a 2023 sprint car crash, and when vertigo sidelined him earlier in 2026, Finn was his constant comfort during recovery. Now, Bowman knows that 2027 will be his last full-time Cup Series season before Connor Zilisch takes over the No. 48. Finn was supposed to be there to see him cross the final finish line.
Instead, just hours before Sunday’s Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway, Bowman had to say goodbye. The loss came after Finn had been battling cancer. Bowman had revealed in May that the illness had spread rapidly, leaving his longtime companion with limited time. By the time Bowman arrived at Gateway, the situation had become even more painful.
“I don’t know how to say this out loud, but last night I lost my best friend. You only get a dog like Finn once in a lifetime. He was just the best,” Bowman shared on Instagram.
Finn’s impact was massive. Over the years, Finn was painted onto Bowman’s cars to promote Nationwide pet insurance, and he became the face of a huge charity effort.
“There are so many homeless animals out there who need help, and it means a lot to me to be able to make a difference,” Bowman previously said about his rescue work.
With his sponsor Ally and the Best Friends Animal Society, Bowman donates $4,800 to a local animal shelter every race weekend. When Bowman reaches Victory Lane, that donation jumps to $10,000. Finn wasn’t just a pet; he helped save countless others.
The grief entering Gateway was incredibly heavy. “Just a really hard weekend just to get on the plane and be here. Ready to go home… Life is hard sometimes,” Bowman said to reporters trackside.
Yet once the green flag dropped, Bowman found a way to put the emotions aside. Starting 11th, he steadily worked his way forward while much of the field struggled with crashes, cautions, and mechanical problems. The final stage was where he truly came alive.
He repeatedly found himself in contention near the front and eventually became a factor in the battle for the win. Over the final 20 laps, the No. 48 remained a fixture inside the top five as the race moved toward its chaotic overtime finish.
Bowman, who himself did not make the Chase, ultimately brought home 38 points, his biggest single-race points haul of the season. More importantly, he finished second behind his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson, helping the organization secure a memorable 1-2 result at Gateway. Bowman’s previous best finishes of the season came at Talladega and Texas, where he finished third.
Once the race was over, the emotions took over Bowman. Fighting back tears, he talked about his dog and his team’s performance.
“Yeah, I mean, I su*k here, so clearly I had some help, but yeah, you just never want to see your best friend suffer, and unfortunately the end was pretty bad, so yeah, just that was really difficult, but man, I’m just proud of this Ally 48 team and everybody at Hendrick Motorsports and really proud of Kyle [Larson] for winning. I know it’s been a while for him, and it’s great for this team and the Chase and everything, and yeah it was a good day for us,” Bowman said in a post-race interview trackside.
Larson had his own reason to celebrate. After a 51-race winless streak, he finally returned to Victory Lane, but he made sure Bowman’s contribution was not overlooked.
“Just proud of my team for working so hard and being so patient throughout the tough times and the winless streak and all of that. Thanks to the fans, my fans, for also being patient with us. How about Hendrick Motorsports! How about Alex Bowman! You can’t ask for a better teammate than him.”
“Gave me the pushes I needed to get clear. So, really wanna dedicate this win to him and his dog Finn passed away a couple of days ago,” Larson said in a post-race interview.
Bowman helped Larson with a series of drafting pushes, giving the defending Cup Series champion the momentum he needed to make his move for the win. Larson’s comments afterward showed that the moment meant far more than just another race result. Bowman had arrived at Gateway dealing with a devastating personal loss, yet he still found a way to come through for his team.
For Bowman, a second-place finish could never take away the pain of losing Finn. But it offered a reminder of the people around him at Hendrick Motorsports. On one of the most difficult weekends of his season, the No. 48 team gave Bowman a reason to keep pushing, while Larson ensured his long-awaited victory would carry a tribute to his friend’s best companion.