Alex Bowman signs 1-year deal, plans 2027 Cup Series exit after Hendrick tenure

Alex Bowman has signed a one-year contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports and will retire from the NASCAR Cup Series after the 2027 season, the team revealed on July 23.

What happened?

Bowman, 33, missed four races this season while battling vertigo. He has four top-10 finishes in 17 starts and will likely miss the NASCAR playoffs for the first time since 2023. The extension keeps him at Hendrick through 2027, his 10th full-time season with the team.

In a statement, Bowman said, “I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what’s next, and this feels like the right decision at the right time. The sport asks a lot of you, and I’ve learned it’s important to listen to your body and make the right choices for yourself.”

Why it matters for Alex Bowman

Bowman has been a Cup Series fixture since his age-21 season, starting with BK Racing. He moved to Tommy Baldwin Racing before joining Hendrick Motorsports as a substitute driver for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 88 in 2016. That year, he posted three top-10s in 10 starts filling in for Earnhardt.

In 2018, Bowman took over the No. 88 full-time after Earnhardt’s retirement. He has since racked up eight wins and 49 top-5 finishes over nine seasons. His tenure includes seven playoff berths in eight seasons before 2026.

Bowman has fought through injuries, including a concussion in 2022 and a back injury from a sprint car crash in 2023. Despite the setbacks, he remains one of Hendrick’s most consistent performers.

What comes next?

The announcement creates a rare opening at the sport’s most successful team. Hendrick can plan for the 2028 Cup Series season with more than a year to fill the seat. Bowman’s exit leaves a void at a program that has dominated NASCAR for decades.

For fans, it marks the start of a farewell tour. Bowman’s final season will cap a career that began in the back of the field and grew into a front-runner at the sport’s highest level.

• Bowman will retire after the 2027 Cup Series season following a one-year extension with Hendrick Motorsports.
• He has eight wins and 49 top-5 finishes through nine seasons.
• Bowman missed four races this year due to vertigo and is likely out of the 2026 playoffs.
• His 2027 campaign will be his 10th full-time season with Hendrick.