Whether we've known it or not, the writing has been on the wall for Alex Bowman to retire from NASCAR Cup Series racing and now it is almost etched in stone; here's why now is the right time for it.
SPEEDWAY, Ind. -- The writing has been on the wall for Alex Bowman to retire from NASCAR Cup Series racing and now it is almost etched in stone.
Bowman announced Thursday he will retire from full-time Cup racing after the 2027 season. When he retires, he will have spent 10 seasons racing full-time for Hendrick Motorsports at NASCAR's highest level after taking over for Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Bowman and Earnhardt have parallels. Each of them had success in the highest level of NASCAR but faced the totality of injuries and struggles that have shown up in their results.
Bowman is well outside of Chase contention after missed multiple races due to issues with vertigo and struggling after coming back. Coincidentally, Hendrick Motorsports has as many wins this season (two) as they did in 2017 when Earnhardt announced his retirement.
At least with Bowman too, the organization is entering a new era.
Earlier this season, the Bowman/Chase Elliott/William Byron trio set a new record for most races as a trio of teammates in series history. The trio dates back to 2018 when Bowman took over for Earnhardt and Byron took over for Kasey Kahne, to join Elliott. Later, the trio gained Kyle Larson and ascended Hendrick back to its expected heights.
Now, another new era is dawning.
The NextGen car hasn't been kind to Bowman, who has missed more races (13) than he has won (two) since the car was introduced in 2022. Meanwhile, his teammates have won double-digit races each, combining for a total of 50 wins since 2022.
While Bowman hasn't had as many wins as his teammates, he has been consistent. In three of the five NextGen seasons, he has matched or surpassed his teammates' top-10 count and was one post-race tech inspection failure away from making the Round of 8 in 2024.
Up until recently, looking at the free agency market and the factors surrounding various drivers, there didn't appear to be any other driver who looked like a viable option to build upon Bowman's consistency and match the performance of Hendrick's other three drivers.
Now, there is.
? to the 48
Connor Zilisch is having one of the worst Cup rookie seasons in recent memory, driving for Trackhouse Racing, after statistically having the best NOAPS rookie season in series history, driving for JR Motorsports.
JRM has been at the top of its game in NOAPS competition the last few years and is peaking this year, while Trackhouse has been on a steady decline in that same time.
However, on road courses, where driver talent shines more, Zilisch has shown he can hang with the Cup field and belongs in the series. He has also had races like Texas Motor Speedway where he has shown he can run well with the right circumstances.
Success in Cup takes time for young drivers. They first have to overcome the vast difference between how Cup cars go fast compared to other NASCAR vehicles. Then, they have to find the edge required to compete at an elite level.
That process has required time for many top talent, usually around two to three years. If Hendrick were to sign Zilisch to the No. 48 car, they'd be getting him at exactly that time.
This wouldn't bode well for Hendrick prospect Corey Day, who races full-time for them in NOAPS competition with what would be no clear path to Cup. However, endorsements from the likes of Kyle Larson, Jeff Gordon and Rick Hendrick himself certainly don't hurt.
What's Next for Bowman?
Like Earnhardt and other drivers who stepped away from full-time Cup racing, there is still a way for Bowman to continue racing in NASCAR.
Earnhardt continued racing in NOAPS for several years after his 2017 retirement from full-time racing. This season, Kaulig Racing has also brought back old names, like Clint Bowyer who, like Bowman, voluntarily stepped away from full-time racing.
Other drivers, like Kasey Kahne, who stepped away after a career plagued by health issues, have also come back.
Bowman may not be a full-time racer anymore but the relationships he has established will allow him to be top of mind for owners, like Kaulig, who would want a smooth, reliable driver for a one-off or limited run to drum up press and success for their team.
A dream in life is to do what you love and to turn that passion into a career that is so successful, it gives you the freedom to live life however you want.
Bowman has always wanted to make that dream a reality. Now, he gets to do that while he can enjoy it.
