Alex Bowman reacts to rumor that he's being replaced at Hendrick in 2025

The rumor currently going around is that Alex Bowman could be on the chopping block at Hendrick Motorsports for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Bowman addressed the Silly Season speculation during Cup Series Playoff Media Day at the Charlotte Convention Center Wednesday, and admitted the rumor “has certainly been annoying.” Bowman added he’s under contract through the 2026 season and hasn’t heard anything in regard to a driver change in the No. 48 Chevrolet.

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“That rumor has certainly been annoying” @Alex_Bowman says there is no plan to remove him from the 48-car next season.

His word from Playoffs Media Day >> pic.twitter.com/Hny6J8sfWZ

— Alan Cavanna (@AlanCavanna) September 4, 2024

“That rumor has certainly been annoying,” Bowman told motorsports reporter Alan Cavanna. “Obviously, my contract is through the end of 2026 and all I can tell you is what my bosses have told me and that there’s no plans to change anything. Rumors are just rumors. Hopefully, they’ll get their announcements done so my rumors stop. As far as I know, I’m driving the 48 next year and nothing’s changing.”

The rumor took on a life of its own after NASCAR spotter and “Door Bumper Clear” host Brett Griffin said that Bowman could be out of a job at Hendrick if he doesn’t advance out of the first round of the playoffs. Freddie Kraft, spotter for Bubba Wallace and the No. 23 team, chimed in with, “There’s a reason they haven’t announced any drivers in certain cars yet.” 

NASCAR rumors around Alex Bowman spark concern about future with Hendrick Motorsports

Austin Konenski of Motorsports Wire followed up on Griffin and Kraft’s remarks with the following: “It has certainly made rounds for a few weeks now…we’ll see what happens with Spire Motorsports and other NASCAR teams.” Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports previously mentioned that it seems like Bowman “can’t afford many hiccups” even after his win at Chicago.

Bowman said he has heard the rumor for a month, and it prompted him to contact his bosses at Hendrick. The 31-year-old received assurance from Hendrick that he wasn’t at risk of losing his job.

“I trust my bosses and that’s what they’ve told me,” Bowman said. “Other than that, just focusing on trying to be strong for the next 10 weeks. Every conversation I’ve had with my bosses — it’s unfortunate rumors and it’s rumors we’re really not a part of, which makes it difficult. I don’t think there’s any plans or anything on the HMS side and I think the rumors have started on the other side of things. So, hopefully when they get their announcement on what the other side is doing on that rumor, then it’ll kind of go away for me.

“… That’s a rumor I’ve heard for a month, and it got to the point where I picked up the phone and called everybody and everybody said, ‘Absolutely not.’ So, that’s really all I have to go on. And I don’t have a reason to believe anything other than that. There’s no you need to do this to keep your job. Like, it’s absolutely not, everything’s fine.”

Alex Bowman focused on running better over next 10 weeks

Bowman is in the playoffs for the sixth time in his seven seasons at Hendrick, snapping an 80-race winless streak at the Chicago Street Race in July. That hasn’t stopped speculation of his spot at Hendrick being secure, as his performance in the aftermath of the victory has left a lot to be desired.

Since a P3 finish at Pocono, Bowman has finished outside the top-15 in five consecutive races. That includes finishes of P31, P28 and P27. Bowman enters the postseason with just five playoff points to his name and must improve to advance far in the playoffs.

“Beyond that, we need to go run better,” Bowman said. “It’s been a miserable month, and we haven’t executed at a high level at all. So, we need to go run better the next 10 weeks, but we need to do that for us and our playoff run and for Ally and the 48 car. There’s no like you need to do this to keep your job. As far as I know, I’m not worried about that at all.”