CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Alex Bowman opened NASCAR’s playoffs on defense — not of his style of driving, but of his status in the seat of the No. 48 Chevrolet at Hendrick Motorsports. The first playoff race was just days away and Bowman spent an entire afternoon insisting rumors he’d be out of the car next season were untrue. He ended the first round by scoring the most points of any driver through the three races and advanced to the second round. Bowman joins Chase Briscoe, Austin Cindric and Daniel Suarez as drivers who were iffy to make it out of the first round but head to Kansas Speedway still in title contention.… Continue Reading