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Alex Bowman didn’t sugarcoat his 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season.
The Hendrick Motorsports driver’s year ended with a pit-road speeding penalty in Sunday’s finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. In a post on X afterward, Bowman said he didn’t think he was close to going over the limit, and that the penalty summed up his year.
“2026 seasons over. Somehow ended it by speeding on pit road without being even close to going over my lights. That kind of feels like a fitting end to this year honestly. All the right intentions and work with nothing to show for it.”
https://x.com/lex88di9/status/2119616288997912796
A Tough Year for the No. 48
Bowman missed races early in the season because of vertigo and did not make the Chase. He finished 16th at Homestead.
He also had a reply for critics who pointed out that the No. 48 team didn’t lead a lap all year.
“Oh and yeah Reddit I know we didn’t even lead a lap, neither did you,” he wrote.
Bowman Congratulates Larson
Bowman’s teammate Kyle Larson clinched his third Cup title Sunday, giving Hendrick its 16th Cup championship. Bowman congratulated him with a joke about Larson’s plane.
“Congrats to everybody at @teamhendrick on another championship. Happy for @kylelarsonracin and honestly glad he won again so he can afford to keep flying @williambyron and I around on his plane,” Bowman wrote, referring to Larson and teammate William Byron.
Bowman’s Final Full-Time Season Is Next
In July, Bowman announced he will step away from full-time Cup racing after the 2027 season, following a one-year contract extension with Hendrick. He pushed back on talk online that he won’t be around next year, writing that he is “excited for 2027, even though the internet says I won’t be there?”
The 33-year-old also promised fans a closer look at his last full-time year.
“I’m going to challenge myself to take you guys along for more of the ride for the next year. It’s no secret that I don’t enjoy social media. It’s tough to be me on it honestly, but I’ll do my best to give you guys some better insight into the next 365 days. No promises after that, though.”
A Send-Off for Blake Harris
Bowman will have a new crew chief in 2027. Blake Harris is leaving to join Trackhouse Racing, and Bowman thanked him, while noting that fans had often been rough on Harris.
“He’s gonna kick ass on his next deal, and I couldn’t be happier for him,” Bowman wrote.
He signed off with one more line: “Alrighty, that’s enough. I’m already in trouble for this post.”
Bowman has eight career Cup wins, all with Hendrick. His longtime spotter, Kevin Hamlin, has also announced he is leaving the No. 48 team after Homestead.
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