DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 11: Alex Bowman 48 Hendrick Motorsports Ally Chevrolet is being interviewed during Media Day for the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Daytona 500 on February 11, 2026 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, FL. Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire AUTO: FEB 11 NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 Media Day EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon2602113593500
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 11: Alex Bowman 48 Hendrick Motorsports Ally Chevrolet is being interviewed during Media Day for the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Daytona 500 on February 11, 2026 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, FL. Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire AUTO: FEB 11 NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 Media Day EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon2602113593500
You’d think being a NASCAR driver, especially from Hendrick Motorsports, would get you free access in the paddock. But the security at Texas Motor Speedway disagrees with that, as Alex Bowman recently revealed the time he had to sneak back onto the track.
Back in 2020, during the pandemic, the race at Texas Motor Speedway was held on Wednesday. While at the track, Bowman went out to grab some food for himself. However, while returning to the track, he realized he was missing his hard card.
While speaking to PRN, he recalled the incident. "I forgot my hard card in my bus. And let me tell you, the lady at the front gate of Texas, it does not matter who you are, Jeff Gordon is not going through that tunnel without their hard card, and I snuck back in. I didn’t think I was gonna get back in, and I snuck back in the racetrack," he said.
The Hendrick Motorsports driver revealed his plan to sneak back to his bus. He called, saying, "I drove really fast and held up a credit card. I knew if I stopped, I was in trouble. She does her job very well, and yeah, I knew anywhere else I feel like I would have been okay, but not there."
For those who may not know, the hard card gives the drivers access to all the areas during any NASCAR event throughout the year.
It was a decent change to see the Arizona native in a humorous mood after a torrid start to his 2026 season.
Alex Bowman finds his rhythm at Talladega
Earlier this year, the #48 HMS driver went through a rough patch. Alex Bowman was diagnosed with early symptoms of vertigo. This led to him being sidelined for four races of the season before he returned at Bristol.
However, during Sunday’s Jack Link’s 500, something snapped in place for Bowman as he scored his first top five in the race. The "Big One" on lap 115 benefitted his track position, and he eventually finished on the podium.
"To be blunt, it just feels good to get out here without crashing. I’m getting old, [and] don’t have much of that left in me. Glad to get out of here clean." He told FOX Sports during his post race interview. "We had a great Ally 48 Chevy all day. Felt like we played the race the best we could, kind of with the situations we were given."
With this finish, Bowman bagged 37 points. However, considering he missed four races, he still sits 36th in the driver standings.
Written by
Chionia Libania Colaco