Alex Bowman has signed a one-year contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports to drive the No. 48 through the 2027 season and will retire from full-time Cup Series competition after that year. Bowman has driven full-time for Hendrick since 2018 and currently piloting the No. 48 Chevrolet, highlighting eight Cup wins. He debuted in Cup in 2014 and rose to a mainstay after replacing Dale Earnhardt Jr., later switching from the No. 88 to the No. 48 in 2021. Bowman has battled multiple injuries, including a 2022 concussion, a 2023 fractured vertebra, and vertigo that sidelined him for four races this season. His departure will leave Hendrick with an opening in the sport’s winningest team, and the organization and sponsor Ally have praised his professionalism as they plan a successor for the No. 48.