Alex Bowman, the driver of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro for Hendrick Motorsports, recently addressed rumors about his future with the team during NASCAR Playoff Media Day. The speculation surrounding his status with the organization has been a source of annoyance for Bowman, who clarified that his contract with Hendrick Motorsports is in place until the end of 2026.
In response to questions about the rumors, Bowman stated, “All I can tell you is like what my bosses have told me, and that is that there are no plans to change anything. Yeah, rumors are just rumors. Hopefully they’ll get their announcements done so my rumors stop, obviously. Yeah, as far as I know, I’m driving the No. 48 next year.”
Despite the rumors, Bowman remains focused on his performance on the track. He made the 2024 playoffs with a win at the Chicago Street Course, but he currently lags behind his teammates in season-long stats. While it has been a decent season for Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports is expected to perform at a level beyond most of their rivals. Prior to his win in Chicago, Bowman had not secured a victory in over two years. Additionally, he faced setbacks in previous seasons due to a concussion in 2022 and a back injury in 2023.
When asked about the possibility of leaving Hendrick Motorsports, Bowman expressed confidence in his position within the team. He stated, “I trust my bosses and that’s what they’ve told me. So yeah, other than that, just focused on trying to be strong the next 10 weeks.”
The rumors surrounding Bowman’s future prompted him to seek confirmation from team management. He explained, “It got to the point where I picked up the phone and called everybody, and everybody said, ‘absolutely not’. So, that’s really all I have to go on and I don’t have a reason to believe anything other than that.”
Bowman’s tenure with Hendrick Motorsports began in 2016 when he filled in for Dale Earnhardt Jr. He transitioned to a full-time role with the team in 2018 and has since earned eight race victories. Despite his successes, Bowman has faced challenges in consistency and performance, with only one season ending with a standing higher than 12th place.
Acknowledging the need for improvement, Bowman emphasized the importance of running better in the upcoming races. He admitted, “We need to go run better. It’s been a miserable month. We haven’t executed on a high level at all, so we need to go run better the next 10 weeks.”
As Bowman prepares for the playoffs, his focus remains on delivering strong performances for himself, his team, and his sponsors. He emphasized that there is no pressure to perform to secure his job within the organization, stating, “There’s no ‘you need to do this to keep your job.’ As far as I know, I’m not worried about that at all.”
Throughout his time with Hendrick Motorsports, Bowman has proven himself as a competitive and skilled driver. While rumors may continue to circulate, he remains committed to his role within the team and is determined to showcase his abilities on the track in the upcoming races.