Alex Bowman’s struggles in the past couple of years in NASCAR aren’t a secret. After breaking his back in a sprint car accident in April 2023, Bowman returned to stock car racing later in the season. However, the driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet ZL1 has hit choppy waters since then. And some voices in NASCAR have asked for his retirement, too.
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However, Bowman has also had his defenders, with former NASCAR driver-turned analyst Kyle Perry being the latest. After the No. 48 team failed to qualify for the second round of the playoffs last weekend at Bristol, Perry urged fans to overlook any shortcomings the team or the driver might have had up until now.
Petty wants people to leave the decision about Bowman’s future to Rick Hendrick. That said, Petty did call out the team, stating how one of the four teams at Hendrick Motorsports has always lagged behind the other three.
“That’s always been the MO at Hendrick Motorsports. They always have one car that lags behind. The 48 team seems to be the team since Jimmie Johnson left that lags behind,” said the NASCAR veteran.
Petty also spoke in favor of Bowman, criticizing the external noise that has pounded the 32-year-old in a significant part of his career. There were always questions about whether he deserved his seat at HMS.
“If you own that team, you can get rid of him. You could change everything. I could change everything. We can complain about it all we want to, but it’s Rick’s decision, not our decision. The sponsor likes him, Rick [Hendrick] likes him, the team likes him, he adds something to the combination, and he helps the whole group move forward. So let’s give him another shot,” exclaimed Petty.
From a business standpoint, we have often heard newer owners such as Denny Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson talk favorably of how running a four-car operation is often more financially viable than running a two or three-car team. That’s because resources can be divided across teams, and performance improves across the board.
Regardless of what Petty’s logic is, it is hard to turn a blind eye to Bowman’s reality. Since 2021, he has not had a single appearance in the Round of 8 of the playoffs. His three teammates, meanwhile, have three appearances each to their names.
While one could cite different reasons for Bowman’s early exit, the reality is that he never made it. As things stand, Bowman’s future in the sport depends on whether or not Rick Hendrick is okay with the glaring underachievement. At least that’s what Petty feels.
