NASCAR driver Alex Bowman made it official Thursday — he plans to walk away from full-time racing when the 2027 season comes to a close.
Before sharing the news, Bowman locked in a one-year contract extension that will keep him driving the No. 48 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports through that final season.
“I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what’s next, and this feels like the right decision at the right time,” Bowman said. “The sport asks a lot of you, and I’ve learned it’s important to listen to your body and make the right choices for yourself.”
He continued: “My focus now is on making the most of my time on the racetrack and competing for wins. We still have a lot to accomplish, and I want to close my career on a high note for our team and our fans. To have the chance to do that with this organization and these people is really special.”
Health has been a recurring challenge for Bowman. Earlier this season, the 33-year-old dealt with vertigo after an incident during a race in Austin, Texas, in early March, which forced him to sit out four consecutive races.
“I was dizzy in the car and throwing up on myself in the car, spinning and kind of all that stuff,” Bowman described last month.
It wasn’t his first health setback. He also missed races in 2022 due to a concussion and sat out time in 2023 because of a back injury.
Over a 12-year career, the Tucson, Arizona native has collected eight Cup Series victories and made seven playoff appearances. His most recent win came at the Chicago street race in 2024. Other victories came at tracks in Richmond, Dover, the Poconos, Martinsville, and Las Vegas.
Bowman also put together an impressive stretch at the Daytona 500, posting three straight top-six finishes from 2023 to 2025. He came in fifth in 2023, runner-up in 2024 behind teammate William Byron, and sixth in 2025.
Currently, Bowman sits 29th in the points standings this season — well outside the 16-driver cutoff needed to qualify for the postseason.
Next year will mark his 10th season with Hendrick Motorsports. Team owner Rick Hendrick reflected on what Bowman has meant to the organization.
“Alex has meant so much to our organization for a long time,” Hendrick said. “He’s overcome adversity, won big races and represented our team and partners with professionalism, personality and class.”
“Alex is a tremendous talent in the race car and an even better person outside of it,” Hendrick added. “We’re proud he’ll have the opportunity to finish his full-time career with us on his terms. He’s family.”
