Justin Allgaier will substitute for Alex Bowman in the No. 48 car at Las Vegas.
Justin Allgaier is the next pinch hitter off the bench.
After Anthony Alfredo subbed for Alex Bowman in the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports car at Phoenix Raceway last weekend, the organization announced Allgaier will fill in March 15 as the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Las Vegas.
Bowman exited his Chevrolet late in the race at COTA two weeks ago. The 32-year-old was diagnosed with vertigo, and the timetable for his return has not yet been determined.
“Alex continues to work closely with doctors toward being medically cleared, but he’s still experiencing some lingering symptoms,” Hendrick president and general manager Jeff Andrews said in a statement. “He’s put a lot into the recovery process, and we will continue to support him every step of the way. Our priority remains making sure Alex is fully ready before returning to the race car.”
Allgaier brings plenty of experience to Bowman’s usual ride. The 39-year-old already ran one Cup race this season, finishing 38th in the Daytona 500 with JR Motorsports.
He competes in the O’Reilly Series with the same team and has enjoyed tons of success. He captured the 2024 championship, and across 17 years, he has collected 29 victories. The most recent came March 7 at Phoenix.
Allgaier does not have a Cup Series win in 84 career starts.
Bowman kicked off the 2026 campaign with finishes of 40th, 23rd and 36th. In his absence, Alfredo placed 33rd last week.