By David Morgan, Associate Editor
Alex Bowman will not compete in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway after being sidelined due to a vertigo diagnosis this week, Hendrick Motorsports announced on Thursday.
Anthony Alfredo will take over driving duties in the No. 48 Chevrolet on the one-mile oval in the Arizona desert this weekend. Alfredo serves as the simulator testing driver for HMS.
Bowman exited his car after 71 laps in last Sunday’s race at Circuit of the Americas when symptoms began to surface, yielding the seat to Myatt Snider, who finished the race for the team.
Hendrick noted that Bowman underwent medical testing earlier this week and has made laps in a street car in the days since.
“Alex has worked very hard over the last several days,” said Jeff Andrews, president of Hendrick Motorsports.
“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.”
Hendrick officials added that they will request a medical waiver for Bowman to remain eligible for the Cup Series championship when he returns to the car.
Over the course of his NASCAR national series career, Alfredo has made 210 starts across all three series, including 43 in the Cup Series, 154 in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and 13 in the Craftsman Truck Series.
Alfredo’s best Cup finishes came with a pair of top-10’s at Talladega in 2021 and 2024, finishing 10th and sixth, respectively. He also has five top-five finishes and 23 top-10’s in O’Reilly competition, and two top-10s in the Truck Series.
“First and foremost, I hate it for Alex (Bowman),” said Alfredo. “No race car driver wants 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 (Raceway) and help get the team some good notes for future races.”
The Straight Talk Wireless 500 is scheduled for 3:30 pm ET on Sunday, with practice and qualifying on Saturday afternoon beginning at Noon ET. The 312 lap race will be televised on FOX, while practice and qualifying will stream on Amazon Prime.
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