Rick Hendrick shuts down rumors about Alex Bowman’s future

After a few weeks of questions, it is official: Alex Bowman will be back in the No. 48 Chevrolet next season.

Rick Hendrick officially confirmed that on Tuesday, according to a report from the Associated Press’ Jenna Fryer. That follows weeks of speculation that Bowman’s seat might be on the chopping block.

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The driver himself had called the rumors ‘annoying’ as recently as last week.

“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.”

But Alex Bowman ran well in the first playoff race of the season, at Atlanta.

He finished P5 in the Quaker State 400, moving up to sixth place in the current playoff standings. So that question of advancing to the Round of 12 looks like it could be answered affirmatively with one more good race from the No. 48 driver.

Bowman has had a strong season, too. He won at Chicago, taking the street race in a riveting round of racing. He has secured seven top-five finishes and 13 top-10 finishes this year.

Now, with the announcement officially out of the way, Bowman can turn his full attention to racing again. He admitted in recent weeks it wasn’t easy.

“I trust my bosses and that’s what they’ve told me,” Alex 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.”