Bowman giving himself time to let his future plans come into focus

Alex Bowman believes that his future will be plans will be settled sooner rather than later, but that doesn’t mean he feels he is racing for his job.

“We’ve had a lot of different conversations trying to figure out what the best thing to do is,” Bowman said. “So, I would say sooner rather than later, for sure. But really, I guess, I haven’t really thought about [it]. It hasn’t been the first thing on my mind by any means.

“I’ve really just been working hard at trying to get things pointed in the right direction. But I definitely think [something will be said] sooner rather than later.”

Bowman is in a contract year with Hendrick Motorsports and will be one of the biggest dominoes to fall regarding the 2027 NASCAR Cup Series grid. Hendrick Motorsports executives have consistently expressed support for Bowman and his status, and Bowman has developed a great relationship with sponsor Ally. He has driven for Hendrick since 2016.

One of the biggest variables for Bowman, however, has been his health and whether he will decidce he no longer wants to be a race car driver after this season or next. Bowman missed four races earlier this season because of vertigo. He missed three races during the 2023 season due to a broken back suffered in a dirt race. And in 2022, he was concussed in the Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway, which sidelined him for five weeks.

“I feel OK,” said Bowman. “I want to make the right decision for myself, I guess. Certain things haven’t gone how we want them to go, and honestly, I’m at a point in my life where I’m super blessed to be in a position where I don’t have to do this forever. So, I have to make the right decision, and I want Hendrick Motorsports to make the right decision and everybody to be on board with whatever we do.

“I have a lot of faith in Rick [Hendrick] and Jeff [Gordon] and everybody to kind of guide all of us the right way, and whatever happens, happens. Honestly, I’ve just been going to the racetrack trying to do my job. Obviously, you think about it, but it’s not like the No. 1 thing on top of my mind all the time. I don’t go on the internet, so I don’t get wound up about things. I hear about it from other people. … I’ve avoided the rumors and been trying to go do my job.”

Bowman and the No. 48 haven't been the force at the front they expect, but he feels their performance has been stronger than the results show. David Jensen/Getty Images

On the racetrack, things have not gone well for Bowman and his No. 48 team, led by crew chief Blake Harris. Bowman has three top-10 finishes in 14 starts, but seven finishes of 25th or worse. It is a weekly fight for normalcy in performance and results.

Bowman took a lighthearted tone when he pointed out that the team has had three good weeks (top-10 finishes) but many bad ones. The perplexing part has been that the places where Bowman tends to run well have been a struggle, and vice versa. Dover Motor Speedway, where Bowman had finished in the top 10 in seven of the last eight races, was the one that “extremely” caught him off guard.

“I think … as a company, we’re a little off where we want to be,” Bowman said. “I think our finishes are certainly worse than they should be; I think we’ve had better cars and run better than we finished at a lot of these places. But unfortunately, it’s been a bit of a struggle.”

Regardless of how the rest of the season plays out, Bowman does not see his job as being at stake or the last time he drives a race car.

“I’m just trying to do my part to try to help HMS to be the best it can be right now, and obviously trying to get things turned back around on the 48 side of things,” he said. “But I don’t feel like I’m racing for my job or anything like that by any means. It’s week to week focused on trying to get pointed back in the right direction.”