NASCAR driver Alex Bowman plans to retire from full-time Cup Series competition following the conclusion of the 2027 season. The announcement comes after Bowman signed a one-year contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports to continue driving the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro.
Bowman, 33, stated that the decision was made after considerable thought regarding his future. "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," Bowman said in a statement. He expressed gratitude to Rick Hendrick, Ally, Chevrolet, and the entire Hendrick Motorsports team for their support throughout his career.
"My focus now is on making the most of my time on the racetrack and competing for wins," Bowman added. "We still have a lot to accomplish, and I want to close my career on a high note for our team and our fans. To have the chance to do that with this organization and these people is really special."
The decision follows several seasons where Bowman has dealt with injuries. He missed five races in 2022 due to concussion-like symptoms and three races the following season after sustaining a broken vertebra in a sprint car crash. This season, he has also missed four races while managing vertigo.
Bowman has accumulated eight career wins, with four of those victories coming in the 2021 season. Currently, he is 29th in the NASCAR Cup Series standings with an average finishing position of 21.765. This would mark his worst season performance since 2015, prior to joining Hendrick Motorsports.