Amid growing questions about his long-term future in NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman has shed light on what lies ahead. The 33-year-old Cup driver suffered health issues earlier this year that sidelined him from races, and it was then that the retirement conversation accelerated.

On Thursday, Hendrick Motorsports announced a one-year contract extension for Bowman for 2027, revealing that it would be his last. While talking to The Athletic's Jeff Gluck, Bowman revealed the decision to retire from NASCAR had been pondered for a long time due to his multiple injuries.

But it was the vertigo-like symptoms that he experienced at the Circuit of the Americas road course that sidelined him earlier this season and cemented the decision for him.

"In March, that's what I was doing, "Bowman said on Gluck's YouTube channel. "I was pretty adamant that I wasn’t going to come back and that I was done. We had all those conversations."

Bowman has battled several injuries throughout his NASCAR career, including a concussion in 2022 that made him sit out five races and the Sprint Car crash in 2023 in which he injured his back.

"My back hurts a lot; I’m in a lot of pain," Bowman further revealed in the interview. "I’m doing (physical therapy) every single day, just trying to get through the season."

The No. 48 HMS driver also revealed that beyond the health concerns, he 'doesn't love the attention' and mentally struggles with putting behind the results of any race in the week after it.

Alex Bowman began his NASCAR Cup Series career with BK Racing before moving on to Tommy Baldwin Racing. However, his big breakthrough came when he was announced as Jimmie Johnson’s replacement at Hendrick Motorsports in 2018. From here, Bowman went on to win eight Cup Series races and entered the playoffs seven times.

With his future now clarified, Bowman will look forward to making the most of his last season at Hendrick Motorsports before stepping away from NASCAR full-time.

Rick Hendrick breaks silence on Alex Bowman’s NASCAR retirement

Having worked alongside Bowman for nearly a decade, Rick Hendrick understands the challenges the No. 48 HMS driver has endured.

Post Alex Bowman’s retirement announcement, the NASCAR Hall of Famer reflected on Bowman’s journey with the team and praised his perseverance to overcome adversities.

"Alex has meant so much to our organization for a long time," said Rick Hendrick. (via Hendrick Motorsports). "He’s overcome adversity, won big races and represented our team and partners with professionalism, personality and class.

"Alex is a tremendous talent in the race car and an even better person outside of it. We’re proud he’ll have the opportunity to finish his full-time career with us on his terms. He’s family."

Alex Bowman became HMS’ sixth-longest-running driver. As the curtain prepares to fall on this long-running partnership, Bowman and the team will be looking forward to ending it on a high next season.

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Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco

Edited by

Yash Kotak