While team owners are trying to figure out drivers for the rest of the season and into 2027, Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman has announced that the 2027 season will be his last as a full time driver in the Cup Series.
Bowman took over driving the number 88 car for HMS when Dale Earnhardt Jr retired from full time driving after a difficult time with a a concussion following an on track crash in 2018. Then when Jimmie Johnson retired from full time driving in 2020, Bowman switched to the number 48 car.
Bowman has spent the past 12 years driving for Rick Hendrick; but at 33, he has decided that it is time to hang it up full time.
Bowman missed four races earlier this season dealing with vertigo issues after a crash.
Car owner Rick Hendrick spoke on Bowman via team press release saying, “Alex has meant so much to our organization for a long time. 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. We’re proud he’ll have the opportunity to finish his full-time career with us on his terms. He’s family.”
Bowman spoke on his decision saying, “I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what’s next, and this feels like the right decision at the right time. 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. To say I’m incredibly grateful to Mr. Hendrick, our partners at Ally and Chevrolet, and everyone at Hendrick Motorsports would be an understatement. They believed in me and gave me the biggest opportunity of my life.”
He added, “my focus now is on making the most of my time on the race track 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.”