Bowman zips past Larson after late flat and wins at Pocono

© Provided by Associated Press Kurt Busch (1) streaks past the crowd in the packed grandstand during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Pocono Raceway, Saturday, June 26, 2021, in Long Pond, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

LONG POND, Pa. (AP) — Alex Bowman made it six straight wins for Hendrick Motorsports, when teammate Kyle Larson’s Chevrolet blew a tire on the final lap, and he took the checkered flag Saturday at Pocono Raceway for his third Cup win of the season.

© Provided by Associated Press The crew for Kyle Busch (18) work on the car during a pit stop during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Pocono Raceway, Saturday, June 26, 2021, in Long Pond, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Larson had won three straight Cup races and was in prime position to take this one at Pocono when he passed Bowman with three laps left in the race. Larson was maybe a mile away from becoming the first driver since former Hendrick driver Jimmie Johnson in 2007 to win four consecutive Cup races. Instead, a blown left front tire on the last corner of the last lap knocked Larson out of contention and Bowman stunningly made the most of his second chance.

© Provided by Associated Press The crowd in the packed grandstand stand and cheer as the cars streak past on a restart during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Pocono Raceway, Saturday, June 26, 2021, in Long Pond, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

“I hate to win one that way, but hell, yeah, I’ll take it,” Bowman said.

Bowman, who recently signed a two-year contract extension at Hendrick, took his turn to keep the team’s hot streak alive.

Larson said he might have run over debris to cause the tire issue. Bowman was in the right spot to take advantage and win for the third time in his last 10 races.

“I’m kind of in shock,” Bowman said. “I don’t know what to say.”

For team owner Rick Hendrick, the wins keep coming.

Bowman started the streak in May at Dover and Chase Elliott followed the next week at Texas. Larson then ripped off three straight points victories — and the $1 million All-Star race for four wins, total — all while Hendrick Motorsports became the winningest organization in NASCAR history. All eyes were on Larson as he tried to match Johnson for the longest winning streak this century.

Hendrick has nine wins overall this season and tied its team record for consecutive wins set in 2007.

© Provided by Associated Press The car of Corey LaJoie (7) is smashed against the wall after crashing during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Pocono Raceway, Saturday, June 26, 2021, in Long Pond, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Bowman won the first of two Cup races this weekend at Pocono.

Video: Kyle Larson still in disbelief after Pocono finish (NASCAR)

Kyle Larson still in disbelief after Pocono finish

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Larson faded to ninth.

© Provided by Associated Press Race fans are silhouetted as they stand along the fence in the grandstands while watching a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Pocono Raceway, Saturday, June 26, 2021, in Long Pond, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

“Disbelief, still,” Larson said. “Hate that we didn’t get another win. It would have been cool to win five in a row. I felt something in the middle of the tunnel. I wasn’t sure what it was yet. It finally kind of shredded halfway through that little short shoot there.”

© Provided by Associated Press The pit crew for Kurt Busch (1) works on the car during a stop during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Pocono Raceway, Saturday, June 26, 2021, in Long Pond, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

John Hunter Nemechek won the Truck race earlier Saturday to kick off a packed Pocono schedule. The Xfinity Series races Sunday followed by the second Cup race. Pocono the site of the only NASCAR doubleheader this season (325 miles Saturday; 350 Sunday).

NASCAR will invert the order of the top-20 finishers for the start of Sunday’s race. Chris Buescher starts on the pole. The bottom 18 finishers will start in the same spot.

Bowman is in his sixth full season of Cup racing and his fourth with Hendrick. He never had more than one win in a season. He wasted little time in the No. 48 Chevrolet validating Hendrick’s decision to extend his deal for another two seasons.

Kyle Busch was second, followed by William Byron, Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney.

Larson starts Sunday in a backup car and will drop to the rear of the field. He’s scheduled to visit with students from the Urban Youth Racing School, the Philly-based program that creates opportunities in racing for minorities and extended an olive branch last year to Larson when he was suspended for using a racial slur while racing online in April 2020.

© Provided by Associated Press Fans watch from camper roofs as cars streak behind them during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Pocono Raceway, Saturday, June 26, 2021, in Long Pond, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

“We’ll try and start another streak tomorrow,” Larson said.

AIR UP THERE

Michael Jordan was at the race. Jordan and Hamlin launched the 23XI Racing team this season with Bubba Wallace as the driver. Jordan, who attended with long-time friend Ahmad Rashad, met briefly with NASCAR President Steve Phelps on the grid. Wallace finished 14th in NASCAR’s first race with CBD as the title sponsor.

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More AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

© Provided by Associated Press Cole Custer (41) slides across the track after crashing along the front straight during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Pocono Raceway, Saturday, June 26, 2021, in Long Pond, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)