32-year-old Alex Bowman had to step out of the #48 Hendrick Chevrolet in the middle of last weekend's NASCAR Cup race at Circuit of the Americas. The team lost five laps as Myatt Snider got behind the wheel, finishing the race.
Since then, Bowman was evaluated by medical professionals and has now been diagnosed with vertigo. He will sit out the Phoenix race this weekend entirely, and has been replaced by Anthony Alfredo, who currently competes full-time in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series.
“Alex has worked very hard over the last several days,” said Jeff Andrews, president of Hendrick Motorsports. “We’re encouraged by the progress he’s making, but we have to prioritize his health above all else. It’s obviously frustrating for him because he’s a competitor and wants to be in the race car, especially at his home track. We’ll continue to support Alex and look forward to his return as soon as he’s medically cleared.”
Alfredo has 43 previous Cup starts, and recently attempted to qualify for the 2026 Daytona 500 with Beard Motorsports. He made the race, but was later disqualified when the car failed post-race inspection. He has two top tens in his Cup career, placing as high as sixth at Talladega in 2024. Alfredo is also the sim driver for HMS.
Hendrick Motorsports will request a medical waiver to keep Bowman eligible for the Chase, but with the new point-driven format, missing a race will make the climb back into the top 16 a difficult one. Bowman is currently 36th in the championship standings (last among full-time drivers) after finishes of 40th, 23rd, and 36th to open the 2026 season.
This is also the third time in the last five seasons where Bowman has been sidelined. In 2022, he missed five races due to a concussion, while in 2023, he missed three races due to a back injury.
