Hendrick Motorsports confirmed Thursday that Alex Bowman will compete in this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, despite lingering back pain following a brutal head-on crash at Michigan International Speedway. To ensure the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet team is fully covered, Anthony Alfredo will be on standby should Bowman be unable to complete the race.
Last weekend’s incident at Michigan occurred when Austin Cindric made contact with Cole Custer, sending Custer’s car into Bowman’s path. Bowman’s car was launched into the wall nose-first in one of the hardest hits of his career. After exiting the infield care center, a visibly shaken Bowman told NBC Sports’ Kim Coon, “That hurt a lot… That was probably top of the board on hits I’ve taken.”
Bowman, who suffered a fractured vertebra in a sprint car crash in 2023 that sidelined him for four Cup races, underwent evaluation for back pain earlier this week. While he has been cleared to race, Hendrick Motorsports is taking extra precautions by bringing in Alfredo, the team’s primary simulator driver, as a backup. Alfredo is also slated to race in Saturday’s Xfinity Series event in Mexico City.
The trip south of the border marks a unique moment for NASCAR, as the series ventures to a new international venue. Bowman expressed his excitement in a team release: “I’m really looking forward to racing in Mexico this weekend. It’s always special to bring our sport to new places and feel the excitement from fans who don’t always get to see us race in person.”
Bowman is hoping Mexico will mark a turning point in a difficult season stretch. He finished last in the 36-car field at Michigan, his seventh finish of 27th or worse in the past nine races. Once sitting third in the standings, he has dropped to 13th. Still, there are reasons for optimism: Bowman has recorded five top-10 finishes in his last nine road course starts and won the inaugural Chicago Street Race last July—his most recent Cup victory.
“Our No. 48 Ally Chevy team has had speed, but we haven’t had the results to show for it lately,” Bowman said. “We’re ready to turn our luck around and put together a strong race from start to finish.”
With Alfredo on alert and a new venue providing a fresh start, Bowman and the No. 48 team will be looking to bounce back and reignite their playoff momentum under the Mexican sun.
