Bowman Retires 2027
NASCAR Driver Alex Bowman Announces Retirement Following 2027 Hendrick Motorsports Contract
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Key Points
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Bowman began with Hendrick Motorsports in 2016 as a substitute for Dale Earnhardt Jr., later joined full-time in 2018 on the No. 88, and moved to the No. 48 in 2021 after Jimmie Johnson's retirement.
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Bowman's first Cup Series victory came in 2019 at Chicagoland.
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Bowman had a four-win season in 2021, marking one of his peak years with Hendrick.
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The organization has not announced who will replace Bowman in the No. 48 after his 2027 retirement, leaving a full-time vacancy at Hendrick.
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Rick Hendrick praised Bowman, noting the driver has meant a lot to the organization and has overcome adversity while representing the team with professionalism and class.
Alex Bowman will retire from full-time NASCAR Cup Series racing after the 2027 season, Hendrick Motorsports announced. The 33-year-old signed a one-year contract extension to pilot the No. 48 Chevrolet through 2027, then walk away on his own terms, according to ESPN.
Bowman has eight Cup Series wins and will complete a full decade with Hendrick when he exits. No replacement for the No. 48 has been named, leaving one of NASCAR's most storied teams with an open seat heading into 2028, Yahoo Sports reported.
From Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Sub to Ten-Year Veteran
Bowman's path at Hendrick started in 2016 as a substitute for Dale Earnhardt Jr., who missed time due to concussion issues. He joined the team full-time in 2018, driving the No. 88. When Jimmie Johnson retired after 2020, Bowman took over the iconic No. 48 — the car Johnson had won seven championships in, according to The Score.
His first Cup win came in 2019 at Chicagoland. He broke out in 2021 with four victories, one of his strongest seasons. By the time he retires after 2027, he will have spent ten full seasons racing for Hendrick, American Cars and Racing noted.
Three Injuries in Three Years Took a Heavy Toll
Bowman's recent career has been defined as much by injury as by racing. A concussion in 2022 kept him out of five races. A fractured vertebra in 2023 sidelined him for three more. This season, vertigo forced him to miss four additional races, ESPN reported.
The repeated setbacks shaped his decision to retire. Bowman said the choice came from listening to his body and wanting to finish on his own terms. He expressed gratitude to Hendrick Motorsports and sponsor Ally for supporting him through the difficult stretches, according to Yahoo Sports.
Rick Hendrick Praises Driver's Class and Resilience
Team owner Rick Hendrick offered warm words for Bowman in the announcement. Hendrick said the driver "has meant a lot to the organization" and praised him for overcoming adversity while representing the team "with professionalism and class," according to AJC.
Sponsor Ally also praised Bowman as plans begin for a successor. Bowman's goal for his final two seasons is clear — compete for wins through 2027 alongside teammates Chase Elliott, William Byron, and Kyle Larson before stepping away for good, The Score reported.
An Open Seat and a Big Decision Ahead for Hendrick
Bowman's retirement will create a full-time vacancy at Hendrick starting in 2028. The team has not announced any candidates to replace him in the No. 48. Hendrick currently fields one of NASCAR's most competitive lineups, and filling that fourth seat will be a high-stakes decision, Yahoo Sports noted.
The No. 48 carries heavy history — Jimmie Johnson won all seven of his Cup titles in it. Whoever inherits the car after 2027 will step into one of the sport's most recognizable rides, according to American Cars and Racing.
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