It caught the NASCAR community by surprise when Alex Bowman was given clearance to race in Mexico after what unfolded at the Michigan International Speedway. However, according to an insider, there is a possibility that the Arizona native might not step in the #48 car for the race.
In Lap 60 of the “FireKeepers Casino 400,” Austin Cindric made contact with Cole Custer, and in a chain reaction, they caught Bowman too. The #48 car got loose and dove nose-first into the outside wall. The horrific crash and Bowman’s crumpled car had fans worried.
But the Hendrick Motorsports driver seemed unscathed as he walked to the ambulance. Still, a hard impact like this, especially in a high-speed race like Michigan, certainly has consequences. Many thought that Bowman would sit out for the Mexico one. However, HMS seems to have kept all possibilities open for the upcoming weekend.
Alex Bowman Might Not Be Behind the Wheel of the #48 in Mexico
Previously, the vice chairman of HMS, Jeff Gordon, gave an update on Bowman’s health. He had said, “He (Alex Bowman) certainly was extremely sore afterwards and the next day, but right now, we are confident he will be in the car this weekend.”
As reported by Sports Illustrated, HMS, in a press release, confirmed the same, revealing that the doctors cleared Bowman to race at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. He was evaluated for back pain, and Bowman seems to be doing fine now. However, the team isn’t taking any chances. If Bowman feels discomfort ahead of the Mexico race, he’ll be swapped with the backup driver.
Recently, NASCAR Journalist Joseph Srigley shared an update on this. In an X post, he wrote, “NEWS: @TeamHendrick says that @Alex_Bowman is set to compete at Mexico City after being evaluated this week for back pain following a crash at Michigan. As a precaution, @AnthonyAlfredo (the team’s primary simulator driver) will be on-site in a backup capacity. #NASCAR.”
NEWS: @TeamHendrick says that @Alex_Bowman is set to compete at Mexico City after being evaluated this week for back pain following a crash at Michigan.
As a precaution, @AnthonyAlfredo (the team’s primary simulator driver) will be on-site in a backup capacity.#NASCAR
— Joseph Srigley (@joe_srigley) June 12, 2025
Alfredo is a full-time Chevy driver in the Xfinity Series for Young Motorsports. However, he’s no stranger to the Cup Series. Alfredo has 42 race starts and two top-10 finishes to his name. Also, according to the team, Alfredo has spent extensive time preparing for this event through the simulator for Hendrick Motorsports. So it shouldn’t be a challenge for him to take over Bowman’s ride.
But still, HMS and the #48 team would want Bowman to pilot the car in the Mexico race. They wouldn’t want their driver to miss the historic event, the first international Cup Series points race, and they are desperate for a good finish. After kicking off the season with consistency, Bowman has struggled. In the last nine races, he has finished seven times in P27 or worse.
This has him in the 13th position in the points table. While he is above the provisional cutoff line for the playoffs, it’s still just by 13 points. So, he needs to get back to finishing more in the top-10s and top-5s and hopefully bag a win, to get a playoff spot. Well, only time will tell how that works out for him.
