Alex Bowman signed a one-year contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports and will retire from NASCAR Cup Series racing after the 2027 season, the team announced on July 23.
Bowman, 33, missed four races this season while battling vertigo. He has four top-10 finishes in 17 starts and will likely miss the NASCAR playoffs/Chase for the first time since 2023.
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“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 via Hendrick Motorsports’ announcement. “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.”
2027 will be Bowman’s 10th full-time season with Hendrick Motorsports in the Cup Series. He has totaled eight wins and 49 top-5 finishes through nine seasons entering this weekend’s Brickyard 400 race at Indianapolis.
Bowman has been a fixture in the Cup Series since his age-21 season, when he drove for BK Racing. After a year with Tommy Baldwin Racing at the back of the field, Bowman vaulted onto center stage in 2016 when driving for Hendrick as a substitute driver for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 88. The Tucson, Arizona, native recorded three top-10s in 10 starts in relief of Earnhardt, then was named the full-time driver for the 2018 season upon Earnhardt’s retirement.
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Alex Bowman, NASCAR driver of No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports
KANSAS CITY, KANSAS – APRIL 19: Alex Bowman, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, greets fans on the red carpet prior to the NASCAR Cup Series AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway on April 19, 2026 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
(David Jensen, Getty Images)
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Alex Bowman, NASCAR driver of No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports
KANSAS CITY, KANSAS – APRIL 19: Alex Bowman, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, greets fans on the red carpet prior to the NASCAR Cup Series AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway on April 19, 2026 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
(David Jensen, Getty Images)
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Alex Bowman, NASCAR driver of No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports
May 4, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Alex Bowman (48) is introduced before the start of the Wurth 400 race at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
(Jerome Miron, Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)
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Alex Bowman, NASCAR driver of No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports
AVONDALE, ARIZONA – MARCH 09: Alex Bowman, driver of the #48 Ally Best Friends Chevrolet, greets fans as he walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Shriners Children’s 500 at Phoenix Raceway on March 09, 2025 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
(Chris Graythen, Getty Images)
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Alex Bowman, NASCAR driver of No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 16: Alex Bowman, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet waves to fans as he walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 16, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
(Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images)
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Alex Bowman, NASCAR driver of No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 20: Alex Bowman, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 20, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
(Sean Gardner, Getty Images)
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Alex Bowman, NASCAR driver of No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports
Sep 4, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Alex Bowman speaks to media members during the NASCAR Playoffs Media Day at the Charlotte Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
(Motorsports Wire)
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Alex Bowman, NASCAR driver of No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports
NASCAR Cup Series driver Alex Bowman (48) signs autographs Friday, July 19, 2024, ahead of a practice for the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Motorsports Wire)
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Alex Bowman, NASCAR driver of No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports
NASCAR Cup Series driver Alex Bowman of Hendrick Motorsports rides a bike borrowed from the Corning City Police Department as part of the Bike the Glen event at Watkins Glen International on Aug. 14, 2024.
(Andrew Legare/Elmira Star-Gazette)
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Alex Bowman, NASCAR driver of No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports
NASCAR Cup Series driver Alex Bowman (48) sits in his car ahead of the Brickyard 400, Sunday, July 21, 2024, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Bob Goshert/For IndyStar)
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Alex Bowman, NASCAR driver of No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports
Jul 7, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Alex Bowman (48) does a burn out after winning the Grant Park 165 at Chicago Street Race. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports
(USA TODAY)
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Alex Bowman, NASCAR driver of No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports
July 7: Alex Bowman celebrates after winning the Grant Park 165 on the street course circuit in Chicago.
(Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images)
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Alex Bowman, NASCAR driver of No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports
Alex Bowman celebrates with his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team after winning the Grant Park 165 on the streets of Chicago.
(Mike Dinovo, USA TODAY Sports)
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Alex Bowman, NASCAR driver of No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports
Mar 1, 2020; Fontana, California, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Alex Bowman (88) is congratulated by Jimmie Johnson after winning the Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
(Motorsports Wire)
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Alex Bowman, NASCAR driver of No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports
NASCAR Cup Series driver Alex Bowman (48) talks with NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson (5) during qualifying for the Toyota Owners 400 on March 30, 2023 at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia.
(Peter Casey, Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports)
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Alex Bowman, NASCAR driver of No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports
Mar 9, 2024; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Alex Bowman (48) during Cup Series qualifying at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
(Motorsports Wire)
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Alex Bowman, NASCAR driver of No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports
Feb 16, 2024; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Alex Bowman (48) during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
(Motorsports Wire)
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Alex Bowman, NASCAR driver of No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports
Alex Bowman walks through the garages to attend the drivers meeting before the Daytona 500, Monday, Feb. 19, 2024 at Daytona International Speedway.
(NADIA ZOMORODIAN/NEWS-JOURNAL)
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Alex Bowman, NASCAR driver of No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports
Aug 12, 2023; Speedway, Indiana, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Alex Bowman (48) during practice for the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports
(Motorsports Wire)
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Alex Bowman, NASCAR driver of No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports
Oct 29, 2023; Martinsville, Virginia, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Alex Bowman (48) during the NASCAR Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Mandatory Credit: David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports
(David Yeazell, David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports)
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Alex Bowman, NASCAR driver of No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports
Alex Bowman celebrates after winning the 2022 Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 6.
(Gary A. Vasquez, USA TODAY Sports)
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Alex Bowman, NASCAR driver of No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports
Feb 19, 2023; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Alex Bowman (48) during driver introductions before the start of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports
(Mike Dinovo, Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports)
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Alex Bowman, NASCAR driver of No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports
Alex Bowman smiles as he takes a call from car owner Rick Hendrick, moments after putting the no. 48 Chevrolet on the pole for the Daytona 500, Wednesday February 15, 2023.
(David TuckerNews Journal)
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Alex Bowman, NASCAR driver of No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports
Aug 21, 2022; Watkins Glen, New York, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Alex Bowman (48) leads driver Austin Dillon (3) in the rain under the opening pace laps during the Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
(Matthew OHaren, Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports)
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Alex Bowman, NASCAR driver of No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports
NASCAR Cup Series driver Alex Bowman (48) sits in his pit box Saturday, July 30, 2022, during practice for the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Bob Goshert/For IndyStar)
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Alex Bowman, NASCAR driver of No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports
March 6: Alex Bowman celebrates after winning the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
(Gary A. Vasquez, USA TODAY Sports)
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Alex Bowman, NASCAR driver of No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports
NASCAR driver Alex Bowman competes during the NASCAR Burnouts on Broadway competition on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn.
(Mark Zaleski/ For The Tennessean)
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Alex Bowman, NASCAR driver of No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports
Alex Bowman celebrates after winning the Xfinity 500 NASCAR playoff race at Martinsville Speedway.
(Ryan Hunt, USA TODAY Sports)
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Alex Bowman, NASCAR driver of No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports
Alex Bowman, shown during the NASCAR All-Star Race, won his third Cup race of the season Saturday at Pocono Raceway.
(Jerome Miron, USA TODAY Sports)
Bowman has battled injuries throughout his Hendrick Motorsports tenure, including a concussion in 2022 and a back injury in a sprint car crash in 2023. But he’s been successful overall at Hendrick, with seven playoff berths in eight seasons before the 2026 campaign.
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The news creates a rare thing in NASCAR — a full-time opening with the Cup Series’ all-time winningest team, and more than a year before it has to be filled.
This story will be updated.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Alex Bowman, 33, to retire from NASCAR Cup Series after 2027 season
