Alex Bowman won’t get the chance to compete at his home track of Phoenix in the NASCAR Cup Series this Sunday. The Tucson, Arizona native was diagnosed with vertigo, forcing him out of the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet for the 312-lap race.
The news came from Hendrick Motorsports on Thursday. With Bowman’s absence, Anthony Alfredo will be the replacement driver in the No. 48 machine this Sunday.
Alex Bowman out at Phoenix due to vertigo
In a press release from Hendrick Motorsports, Bowman was said to have started experiencing symptoms of vertigo in last Sunday’s Cup race at Circuit of The Americas.
The 32-year-old exited the race on lap 71 of 95 due to his poor condition, while Myatt Snider filled in for the remainder of the race in the No. 48 car.
Jeff Andrews, president of Hendrick Motorsports, said in the release that Bowman has worked hard to be ready for Phoenix on Sunday. Although they were pleased by Bowman’s progress, they want to prioritize their driver’s health.
“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,” Andrews said.
The statement added that HMS will request a medical waiver for Bowman in order to stay eligible for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series championship.
The absence from Phoenix comes at a bad time for Bowman. After three races in the 2026 campaign, the eight-time Cup Series winner finds himself 36th in the points standings. Bowman failed to finish in the top 20 in all three races so far.
Unfortunately, it’s not the first time Bowman has been sidelined in his time driving the No. 48 car. He missed five races in 2022 after suffering a concussion sustained in a crash at the Texas Motor Speedway in September of that year.
In April 2023, Bowman suffered a fractured vertebra in his back from a sprint car crash. The injury forced him to sit out for three points-paying NASCAR Cup races in 2023.
Anthony Alfredo on replacing Alex Bowman: ‘I hate it for Alex’
Anthony Alfredo will be the fill-in driver for Alex Bowman this Sunday at Phoenix. However, it’s not a position the 26-year-old wants to be in, as he said in a statement.
“First and foremost, I hate it for Alex. No race car driver wants to be in the position where they have to give up their seat for a weekend to someone else. His health is definitely the most important thing, and I hope he gets back to the track soon,” Alfredo said.
Despite the circumstances, Alfredo looks forward to working with crew chief Blake Harris and the No. 48 team. The Connecticut native said they’ll prioritize having a quality race while looking towards the future.
“I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Blake and the No. 48 team for this race. It’s a group I’m already familiar with due to my relationship with Hendrick Motorsports and Chevrolet. The goal is to have a solid weekend at Phoenix and help get the team some good notes for future races,” Alfredo said.
Alfredo will be making his first Cup start of the 2026 season. He initially made this year’s Daytona 500 after racing his way in through the Duels. However, his No. 62 car was disqualified after the event, which cost him the spot in the field.
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