Alex Bowman addressed ongoing rumors about his future with Hendrick Motorsports during the NASCAR Cup Series playoff media day, expressing frustration over speculation that he might be replaced.
“That rumor has certainly been annoying,” Bowman remarked. “My contract runs through the end of 2026, and based on what my bosses have told me, there are no plans to make any changes. Rumors are just that—rumors.”
Bowman, who has been with Hendrick Motorsports since 2018, signed a three-year contract extension before the 2023 season. His primary sponsor, Ally, also extended their partnership through the 2028 season.
“I have confidence in what my bosses have communicated to me,” Bowman said. “Right now, my focus is on performing well over the next 10 weeks.”
Bowman has faced speculation about his job security before, but the rumors intensified earlier this week. Spotter Brett Griffin hinted on the Door Bumper Clear podcast, part of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s media network, that Bowman’s playoff performance might impact his future beyond the first round.
Bowman secured his playoff spot with a win at the Chicago street course, placing him on the playoff cutline before that victory. Despite the speculation, Bowman insisted, “I heard the rumor for a month, so I decided to check with everyone involved.
They assured me that there’s no truth to it. I have no reason to believe otherwise. There’s no requirement to perform a certain way to keep my job. Everything is fine.”
Bowman acknowledged that the team’s recent performance has been disappointing. “We need to improve our performance. It’s been a tough month, and we haven’t executed at a high level,” he said. “Our goal is to do better over the next 10 weeks, not just for our playoff chances but also for Ally and the No. 48 car. There’s no ultimatum about keeping my job.”
Since his win, Bowman has secured one top-five finish and starts the postseason as the No. 12 seed with five playoff points.
