Story & Photo By Patricia McCormack/TheFourthTurn.com

INDIANAPOLIS – Alex Bowman, driver of the Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Chevrolet announced on Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway that he is retiring from full-time competition after the 2027 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Bowman’s NASCAR Cup Series journey at Hendrick Motorsports started when he was asked to be the relief driver for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2016 for 10 races as Earnhardt recovered from a concussion, resulting in Bowman taking over Earnhardt’s No. 88 full-time in 2018 and eventually taking over the iconic No. 48 for Jimmie Johnson in 2021. Prior to taking on a full-time role at Hendrick Motorsports, Bowman drove for the former teams of BK Racing and Tommy Baldwin Racing and was a simulator driver for Hendrick Motorsports.

“Obviously, it has been a dream come true to get to drive for HMS (Hendrick Motorsports) and work with everybody there” said Bowman, “In 2016, before I filled in, I was broke; selling my seats to pay rent and barely getting by. To end up at Hendrick Motorsports for a decade, it’s been incredible.” 

In recent years, Bowman has faced injuries and illness that have cost him seat time behind the wheel of his No. 48, as he has suffered from a broken back, concussions and most recently Vertigo.

“I don’t think physical health is a number one contributor here in this situation for me” said Bowman. “Obviously I have had my fair share of injuries, but I can still do it.”

He suffered a fractured vertebrae from an incident during a sprint car crash in 2023, which he states an on-track incident at Michigan International Speedway which he argues “did more damage” causing the back pain to flare back up. 

Bowman clarifies that his decision to retire in 2027 is because it was the timeframe in which he had set with himself and the organization.

“I think for me, it’s always been in this time frame. I would say kind of this three-year block,” Bowman said. “Whether it was 2026, ‘27, or ‘28, that’s something we’ve talked about for a really long time and what I’ve always had circled. I feel like in my head, I had looked at this year being it quite a bit. Just trying to make the best decision for me and obviously the best decision for Hendrick Motorsports. I think I really wanted to end on a more positive note than kind of how this year has been, so that gave me a little more motivation to come back and go one more year. I think it is better for me, personally. It’s better for Hendrick Motorsports.” 

What’s next for Bowman after he retires? Some drivers turn to broadcasting after their driving careers taking on an analyst type role; however, Bowman stated that he did not see a broadcasting career in his future as he doesn’t think he would be good at it. However, the door was open to the possibility.

“I plan to stay at Hendrick Motorsports, probably on the performance side, and do stuff there,” Bowman said.

Jeff Andrews, President and General Manager for Hedrick Motorsports said, “Alex is family… I think we feel like there’s always a mentorship role, an opportunity there, for our drivers who have experience”.

Bowman also plans to race in different cars and series as he is a big car enthusiast.

In the decade that Bowman has piloted the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, he has eight wins with the most recent being the Chicago Street Course in 2024, 49 top-five and 110 top-10 finishes within the NASCAR Cup Series with over 1,500 laps led. His best season to date came in 2021 where he won an impressive four races. 

Bowman and the other competitors will take to the track on Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Brickyard 400 presented by PPG. Live coverage will broadcast on TNT at 2 p.m. ET.