Alex Bowman focused on the 48 as contract uncertainty looms
It is a peculiar position to be in: entering the final season of a three-year deal while sitting 29th in the points standings. Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, finds himself in that exact spot as the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Chicagoland Speedway. Despite the lack of an announced plan for 2027, Bowman is adamant that his focus remains entirely on righting the ship for his team.
"I don't feel like I'm racing for my job or anything like that by any means," Bowman said. After enduring a difficult stretch and missing races earlier this spring due to vertigo, he is eager to build on a 10th-place finish at Sonoma Raceway. He acknowledges that conversations regarding his future are happening behind the scenes, yet he remains at peace with the process, noting that he is at a point in life where he does not have to drive forever.
Heading to Chicagoland, Bowman faces a unique challenge. He was the winner there in 2019, though that was seven years ago. He now faces a track with aging pavement and a Next Gen car he has yet to test on this specific surface. Still, he is looking for stability and a return to form for the No. 48 team, aiming to break the cycle of poor qualifying and difficult pit stall selections that have plagued their season.
