Bowman announces retirement after 2027
NASCAR Cup Series · statement · 2026-07-25
Alex Bowman announced on July 23, 2026, that he will retire from full-time NASCAR Cup Series competition after the 2027 season, having signed a one-year contract extension to remain in the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Bowman, who took over the iconic No. 48 from Jimmie Johnson in 2021, is the third full-time driver to pilot that number. Reports from The Athletic's Jordan Bianchi, published July 24, indicate Connor Zilisch is understood to be the leading candidate to replace Bowman at Hendrick Motorsports in 2028, with the expectation among multiple sources that a deal will be reached.