Alex Bowman, who exited Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race because of illness, will not compete in this weekend’s event at Phoenix Raceway.
Bowman’s Hendrick Motorsports team said in a statement Thursday that Bowman was diagnosed with vertigo this week. He began experiencing symptoms during Sunday’s race at Circuit of The Americas before exiting his No. 48 Chevrolet early. A native of Tucson, Arizona, Bowman underwent two days of medical evaluation this week and drove laps Thursday in a street car at the Ten Tenths Motor Club road course in Concord, North Carolina, Hendrick Motorsports said.
MORE: COTA results | Cup standings
Anthony Alfredo will drive the No. 48 entry in place of Bowman at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday (3:30 p.m. ET, FS1, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
“Alex has worked very hard over the last several days,” Jeff Andrews, president of Hendrick Motorsports, said in a statement. “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.”
Bowman indicated earlier in Sunday’s DuraMax Texas Grand Prix Presented by RelaDyne that he was ailing, telling his No. 48 Chevrolet crew during the Stage 2 break: “I’ve got an issue in here that we’re not going to fix, but I’m going to need some help post-race probably.” The 32-year-old drove to the garage in the 71st of 95 laps, and he was replaced by relief driver Myatt Snider — a FOX Sports production assistant who has most recently competed on a part-time basis in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
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Snider drove the rest of the way, and Bowman was credited with a 36th-place finish, six laps off the pace. The event marked the 31-year-old Snider’s first competition experience in a Cup Series event.
Bowman, in his ninth season with the Rick Hendrick-owned team, sits 36th in the Cup Series standings after three consecutive finishes outside the top 20 to open the 2026 season.
Alfredo, 26, serves as a simulator driver for Hendrick Motorsports, testing setups in simulation to help each of Hendrick’s teams create setups for their on-track racers. Alfredo has made 210 starts across NASCAR’s three national series, including 43 starts in the Cup Series.
“First and foremost, I hate it for Alex,” Alfredo said in a release. “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. I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Blake (Harris, crew chief) 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.”
In a statement, Hendrick Motorsports said the team will request a medical waiver to allow Bowman to remain eligible for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series championship.