“It’s Important to Listen to Your Body!” Alex Bowman Set to Retire at the End of 2027 Season

One of the biggest topics of discussion in the 2026 season was the future of Hendrick Motorsports veteran Alex Bowman. He had some nightmare years since the start of the Next-Gen era, as he has missed five races in 2022 due to concussion, three in 2023 due to a vertebra fracture and four this year due to vertigo.

Now the veteran has confirmed that he has signed a one-year extension with HMS and will drive the No:48 Chevy till the end of the 2027 season before walking away from full-time racing. Retiring at the age of 35 isn’t the plan for many Cup series driver, but the star driver had to listen to his body and make the right choices.

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.

Alex Bowman said about decision.

It’s the correct decision from Alex Bowman, as he with the one-year extension he has given enough time to the sponsors and the HMS to plan for the future without him, potentially opening a better pathway for prodigy Corey Day. His long-time sponsor Ally would also have time to decide on their future. It’s the best thing the veteran could do for his long-time supporters.

To say I’m incredibly grateful to Mr. Hendrick, our partners at Ally and Chevrolet, and everyone at Hendrick Motorsports would be an understatement. They believed in me and gave me the biggest opportunity of my life.

Alex Bowman added via his press release.

Later he highlighted that right now he is focussed on the 2026 season and getting back to fighting for race wins. The No:48 team and HMS as a whole hasn’t showed any signs of being contenders. But with more effort and some luck he can end his penultimate season in the sport with a couple of wins. He wants to end his final years on a high note and his fans deserves to see it happening.

My focus now is on making the most of my time on the racetrack and competing for wins. 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.

Alex Bowman asserted.

Rick Hendrick insists Alex Bowman is family for HMS

HMS owner Rick Hendrick also shared his thoughts on the situation in the press release. He highlighted how the racer overcame adversities and represented the team with professionalism over the tears. He always admired the racer as a racer as well as a person, and knows the team is losing a solid driver that was family.

Alex has meant so much to our organization for a long time. 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.

Rick Hendrick said.

The decision to stop racing full-time was the right one for Bowman, as unfortunately he isn’t 100% fit to be in the race car. Hendrick Motorsports being the historical giants they are, need the best drivers in the sport driving their cars and with the decision from the veteran, they will’ve the opportunity to do. It would be interesting to see how everything is going to playout for the veteran in the remaining races of his full-time career.

Also Read: “I’m Officially Off!” Denny Hamlin Rules out Ross Chastain and Brad Keselowski from Chase Conversations