Alex Bowman’s Struggles at Hendrick Motorsports Raise Questions About His NASCAR Future

Alex Bowman, the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series champion, is facing one of the most challenging seasons of his career as his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team sits 30th in the owner standings, according to official NASCAR data. The 31-year-old driver, who entered the season amid free agency speculation, has struggled with both on-track performance and health issues, including a vertigo-related absence that sidelined him for four races. “We’ve had some good weeks and a lot of not good weeks,” Bowman said during a recent media teleconference, acknowledging the team’s inconsistency.

Performance Challenges: Why Has Hendrick Motorsports Fallen Behind?

Hendrick Motorsports, a team with 12 Cup Series titles, has seen its dominance wane this season. The No. 48 car, which finished 10th in the 2022 standings, is now 30th in the 2024 owner rankings, a stark indicator of its struggles. Bowman attributed the team’s difficulties to unpredictable race results, noting that traditional strongholds like Bristol and Dover have proven problematic. “We were always fast there and we were really bad. And then places that we historically struggle at, like Texas and Sonoma, we were good at,” he said. The team has only three top-10 finishes this season, including a third-place finish at Talladega and Texas, and a 10th at Sonoma.

Crew chief Blake Harris and Bowman have been unable to stabilize the car’s performance, with Bowman citing “a lot of not good weeks” as a primary challenge. “Our finishes are certainly worse than they should be,” Bowman admitted, adding that the team’s results often underperform relative to their track-day speed. The struggles are compounded by the success of Hendrick teammates Chase Elliott, who has two wins, and the underperformance of Kyle Larson and William Byron.

Future Uncertainties: Will Bowman Stay or Go?

With the Chase for the Championship now out of reach, Bowman’s future with Hendrick Motorsports has become a focal point of speculation. The driver has not ruled out a one-year extension but has also acknowledged the possibility of retirement, citing ongoing health concerns. “I have a lot of options on the table,” Bowman said, though he emphasized his focus on “being the best Alex Bowman I can be right now.”

Health issues have played a significant role in Bowman’s career, including concussions and a broken back sustained in 2020. While he claims to “feel okay,” he has not dismissed the impact of these injuries on his decision-making. “I want to make the right decision for myself,” he said, adding that he trusts team owner Rick Hendrick and former driver Jeff Gordon to guide the process. “I think we’ve had better cars and we’ve been running better than we finished at a lot of these places,” he noted, but acknowledged the need to “get pointed back in the right direction.”

What’s Next for Bowman and Hendrick Motorsports?

The timeline for a decision remains unclear, but Bowman indicated that “sooner rather than later” is likely. “We’ve had a lot of different conversations,” he said, though he emphasized that the matter is not his “first thing on my mind.” The driver has also distanced himself from media rumors, stating, “I don’t go on the internet, so certainly I don’t get wound up about things.”

Hendrick Motorsports has not publicly addressed Bowman’s situation, but the team’s overall performance has raised questions about its ability to compete at the highest level. With the 2024 season nearing its conclusion, the pressure on Bowman and his team to turn things around is mounting. As Bowman prepares for upcoming races, his focus remains on “trying to do my part to help HMS be the best it can be,” even as the future of his career hangs in the balance.