It is not a straightforward job to be a Hendrick Motorsports driver. With the huge expectations that come with being associated with Rick Hendrick, it is sometimes difficult to handle it. Among a stellar set of drivers, Alex Bowman struggles to rank as high as his teammates, but he undoubtedly remains a strong addition to HMS’ arsenal. However, recent rumors of his exit have been annoying, but he will find some relief with the latest developments.
Safe to say, Bowman has struggled to perform at his best in the past two years. In 2022 and 2023, he missed races because of a concussion and back injury, respectively. While that hampered his form, his on-track results didn’t support his cause.
Eventually, it would haunt him as it has recently with his future at Hendrick Motorsports reportedly looking uncertain.
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Alex Bowman gets the support of Rick Hendrick and his multi-billion partner amid HMS exit rumors
Polls of the day Poll 1 of 5 Do you think Alex Bowman can bounce back stronger after the recent rumors? Absolutely No way Only time will tell He needs more support Do you think a McLaren and Rick Hendrick partnership could dominate the Daytona 500? Absolutely No way Maybe, but it’s a long shot Only time will tell Whats your Perspective on: Can Alex Bowman silence his critics with the backing of Rick Hendrick’s $9.93 billion partner? Have an interesting take? Join The Debate Do you think Michael Jordan’s $125 million NASCAR investment will pay off? Absolutely No way Only time will tell It’s a risky bet Do you think Joey Logano has what it takes to clinch the championship in Phoenix? Absolutely No way It’s a toss-up Only if he gets lucky
In today’s time, any driver would give anything to be part of Rick Hendrick and his powerful camp. With that said, it all comes to nothing if the on-track results don’t materialize. Well, that has been the case for Alex Bowman in the past two years. He’s tried hard to revive from that and after his win at the Chicago Street Race Course, things seem to be looking better for him.
After registering a win in Chicago, Alex Bowman ended his 80-race winless run. It was a much-needed victory for the Hendrick Motorsports driver. While it helped him book his place in the 2024 playoffs, now the onus is on him to perform. It has been challenging for him given how he entered the playoffs with five straight finishes of 16th or worse.
Amazingly, Bowman put his poor run behind with an impressive run in the playoff opener at Atlanta. The #48 driver finished fifth on Sunday after starting the race P11. Not only has that helped him stand sixth in points, but he now stands 27 points over the cut line. Unsurprisingly, this would come as a sigh of relief after, what became a tough time for the HMS driver.
Unfortunately for Alex Bowman, his doubters have been skeptical about his future with Rick Hendrick and his team. What started with a rumor picked up a great pace last week with several speculations. Understandably, Bowman grew tired of these annoying rumors. While it affected him personally and mentally, he received Rick Hendrick’s assurance.
If that wasn’t enough, one of Hendrick’s primary sponsors came to Bowman’s support recently. As per macrotrends.net, $9.93 billion worth, and Alex Bowman’s primary sponsor Ally Financial clarified the matter. Andrea Brimmer, the CMO and head of PR at Ally Financial, positively responded to journalist Jenna Fryer’s social media post. The post mentions Rick Hendrick confirming Bowman’s place in the #48 car next year.
Most certainly, this must have brought the 31-year-old some good night’s sleep. Even the fans welcomed this news positively.
Ally Financial coming to Alex Bowman’s rescue delights the NASCAR fandom
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In a team comprising Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, and William Byron, it is understandable how Alex Bowman has to prove himself time and again. After all, Rick Hendrick demands the highest level of racing from each of his team’s drivers. While it is a healthy practice, sometimes it could be mentally challenging as it did with Bowman in this case.
Despite having a contract until 2026, the rumors shook the #48 driver’s confidence. While Rick Hendrick and Ally Financial intervened and provided him the clarity, Bowman was left unsettled momentarily. The clarity about his future must have calmed him, as it did with the NASCAR community. Fans showered their satisfaction on social media following the confirmation.
Some fans couldn’t be more thankful to Andrea Brimmer and Ally Financial for clearing the air. One fan said, “Thank you for having his back, Andrea!” At the same time, another fan added, “Love this!!! Huge thanks to @allyracing for sponsoring a great driver!”
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There were some affirmative comments to Brimmer’s message “To all the doubters” on Twitter. Agreeing with her, one fan said, “That’s correct. They need to be quiet.” On the other hand, one fan exclaimed, “Hell, yeah.” Another fan couldn’t help but point out how Bowman has come a long way in his career. He said, “I remember when Bowman used to struggle for sponsorship, don’t miss it.”
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It is indeed very satisfying news for Alex Bowman and his camp. Now, the HMS driver needs to overcome the Watkins Glen challenge in the playoffs, a track he has struggled to impress on. Bowman has an average finish of 21.4 in his seven starts at the track.
Without a doubt, he’ll need a better finish on Sunday to squash any small doubt remaining among his doubters.