Alex Bowman set to retire after 2027 season

Nick Bowden - Staff Writer

Alex Bowman announced his plans to retire after the 2027 season. (James Gilbert, Getty Images)

Alex Bowman, who has piloted the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet since 2021, is set to retire after the 2027 season. 

Bowman missed four races this season due to vertigo and currently sits 29th in the NASCAR Cup Series points standings. Bowman has recorded three top fives and four top-10 finishes in his 17 starts in the 2026 season.

In a statement released Thursday evening, Alex Bowman said that “this feels like the right decision at the right time.” He also stated that “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.”

Bowman told Jeff Gluck of The Athletic, “My back hurts a lot. I’m in a lot of pain. I’m doing physical therapy every single day.”

Bowman’s future was up in the air as he was set to become a free agent after the 2026 season and his future with Hendrick Motorsports remained uncertain. He has now signed a one-year contract extension to remain in the No. 48 Chevrolet, before retiring on his own terms at the end of the 2027 season. No future plans for Bowman’s replacement have been announced at this time.